History Is Made For CBU On Opening Day

Thursday, February 9

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

8 AM

California Baptist University

0-1

North Carolina

1-0

North Carolina

Cal Baptist

History Is Made For CBU On Opening Day

2/9/2023 7:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Daniel Cook, Associate Director of Athletics Communications & Digital Media

PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – The 2023 softball season is officially underway, with California Baptist University softball turning in historical efforts. Though they led early, the Lancers fell to North Carolina late in the season opener by a score of 3-2 but defeated Wisconsin in the second game of their doubleheader, 2-0.

The team highlight of the day was the win against Wisconsin, but that may be overshadowed by a pair of incredible individual accomplishments by a pair of true freshmen. In her first career at-bat at the college level, designated player Amanda Bricker opened not only the CBU/UNC game in scoring, but she posted the first run in the entire 2023 season with her second-inning blast to dead center.

In game two of Opening Day, fellow freshman Presley Hosick tossed a no-hitter against the Big Ten's Wisconsin Badgers. The no-no on its own is noteworthy, but this was Hosick's first collegiate appearance, and it is the first no-hitter in the Division I era for CBU. The Lancers had been close before, throwing three one-hitters since joining the DI ranks, but Hosick was finally able to finish the job for CBU.

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗥 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗦𝗘𝗧❕#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/tDEGvI4BG9
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) February 10, 2023

GAME ONE: UNC 3 – CBU 2

The season opener was an exciting affair as the second batter up for UNC smacked a triple only to be thrown out at home by veteran CBU center fielder Samantha Demyon. Shortstop Priscilla Estrada kept the good times rolling by collecting the season's first hit in the bottom half of the same inning.

The real fireworks came in the second inning when Bricker staked her claim to fame in the history of the 2023 season by crushing the second pitch she saw over the centerfield wall to put the Lancers up 1-0 on the Tar Heels.

TRUE FRESHMAN AMANDA BRICKER JUST HOMERED IN HER FIRST EVER COLLEGIATE AT-BAT! 🤯🤯🤯 The first run of the 2023 NCAA Softball season is a no-doubter to dead center!#LanceUp⚔️ | @NCAASoftball | @ESPNAssignDesk pic.twitter.com/xdR6bkMvcp
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) February 9, 2023

Five batters later, Estrada would collect her second hit of the game, a double to left, which would score pinch runner Ryley McDaniel from second to make it a 2-0 lead in favor of CBU. North Carolina would get one back in the top of the third and two more in the fifth to reach the final score of 3-2.

GAME TWO: CBU 2 – WISCONSIN 0

The headlines came at the plate in game one, but game two saw history come from the circle. Hosick leaned on her defense early, which helped her overcome four free bases in the first three innings, including a scenario in the second with two runners on with no outs.

She would settle in as the bottom of the fourth inning rolled around, retiring the final eight Badgers she faced. The last batter she faced was Peyton Bannon, a .314 hitter from a season ago who hit it well but high allowing right fielder Merissa Borkowski to settle under it for the final out.

The winning run came late, as the Lancers were held scoreless until the fifth inning. Deja Westbrook notched her first hit of the season with one out in the frame, moving to second on a hit-by-pitch and taking third on a groundout. Borkowski came up clutch with runners on second and third with two outs, smacking a high bouncing chopper to the shortstop, reaching first safely, and easily scoring Westbrook from third.

🚨𝗡𝗢-𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧🚨 True freshman Presley Hosick posts the first no-hitter in CBU Division I history in her collegiate debut!#LanceUp⚔️ | @NCAASoftball | @ESPNAssignDesk pic.twitter.com/CRmDLJ7HwV
— California Baptist Softball (@CBUSoftball) February 9, 2023

The Lancers end day one with a record of 1-1 on the young season. Up next for the Lancers are the Bison of North Dakota State. First pitch is set for 8:00 a.m. Pacific time on Friday morning and can be viewed live on FloSoftball (fees apply).