ST. GEORGE, Utah - Danielle Lyman's (Moreno Valley/Canyon Springs HS) walkoff home run in the seventh inning capped a wild 12-10 upset of No. 26 BYU to highlight the first day of action at the BYU Preconference Tournament Friday at the Canyons Complex in St. George, Utah.
CSUB completed a solid first day with a 6-3 win over Pacific Coast Softball Conference rival Idaho State.
Lyman and Ryane Petersen (Fresno/Fresno State) swung the biggest bats for CSUB Friday. Each player clubbed home runs in both games. Petersen finished the day 3-for-8 with six RBIs while Lyman went 3-for-8 with four RBIs.
Petersen's home runs were her sixth and seventh of the season, the top mark in the PCSC this season.
More than just two wins, the victories snapped a nine-game losing streak and ignited a dormant Roadrunner offense that had averaged 5.4 runs per game but put up just 1.9 runs per game over the streak.
The 12 runs vs. BYU were a season high and matched CSUB's second most ever at the NCAA Division I level (13 vs. San Diego on Mar. 29, 2008). The 18 total runs were CSUB's second-highest consecutive game total at the Division I level, nearly matching the record of 20 set in wins over Seattle (10-9) and Illinois-Chicago (10-3) on Feb. 14-15, 2009.
The 11 Roadrunner hits against BYU were their most since a 13-hit outburst in an 8-3 win over Saint Mary's College on Mar. 5.
The Roadrunners exploded out of the gate against BYU, scoring five runs in each of the first two innings to race to a 10-0 lead. Petersen struck the big blow in the first with a three-run home run. Senior shortstop Heather Veitch (Simi Valley/Royal HS) began the fireworks again in the second by leading off with her first collegiate homer.
But the potent BYU offense, which began the day hitting .317 and averaging 5.8 runs per game, wouldn't go quietly. The Cougars roared back with five runs in the third inning to cut the CSUB lead in half. They then clawed their way to a 10-10 tie with two in the fourth and single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh.
Kristen Archuleta (Hollister/San Benito HS) set the table for Lyman's heroics by lacing a one-out single to right in the CSUB half of the seventh. Lyman then belted her first homer of the season over the leftfield fence to complete the upset.
The 'Runners reversed roles against Idaho State when the Bengals jumped on top with three first-inning runs to claim an early lead. But senior pitcher Shawna Truan (McArthur/Fall River HS) slammed the door after that, shutting out ISU on four hits over the final six innings to earn her fourth win of the season.
Petersen jump started the 'Runner offense once again, sending Nora Maschue's two-out 0-1 offering out to leftcenter, bringing home Chelsey Bell (Ridgecrest/Burroughs HS) and Kasi Muro (Tehachapi/Santa Barbara CC) and knotting the game at 3-3 in the third inning. Lyman followed with a solo shot in the fourth inning to put CSUB ahead to stay.
In addition to Lyman and Petersen, senior third baseman Kelli Bailey (Rodeo/John Swett HS) enjoyed a big day, going 4-for-8.
CSUB concludes play at the BYU Preconference Tournament with two games Saturday. The 'Runners play PCSC Coastal Division foe Loyola Marymount at 11 a.m. (PDT) before facing UNLV at 4:30 p.m. (PDT).
