LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. — Stan State softball closed out the D2 West Coast Challenge with a 6-5 comeback victory over Lubbock Christian on Sunday morning at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park.
Lubbock Christian struck first in the opening inning with an RBI double, then added an unearned run in the third to build a 2-0 lead. Stan State answered in the bottom of the third when Malia Babasa reached on an error, allowing Moxie Barton to score and cut the deficit to one.
The game turned in the fifth inning as the Warriors broke through with five runs. After Madison Rosebrough walked and Barton reached on an error, Ava Montesdeoca singled to load the bases. Babasa followed with an RBI single to tie the game. With the bases still loaded, Nat Camarena delivered the decisive blow, launching a grand slam to center field to give Stan State a 6-2 advantage.
Lubbock Christian chipped away in the sixth, scoring two runs on a pair of RBI singles before Alexis Camberos entered in relief to stop the rally. The Chaparrals added another unearned run in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but Camberos worked through traffic to close out the win and earn the save.
Camarena earned the win in the circle, pitching 5.1 innings and striking out five. She also drove in four runs at the plate on her fifth-inning home run. Babasa finished with an RBI and was involved in multiple scoring plays, while Montesdeoca reached base twice and scored in the decisive inning.
Stan State finished the game with three hits, capitalizing on defensive miscues and timely execution to secure the victory and close the tournament with a 3-2 record.
UP NEXT: Stan State returns home to host the Stan State Invitational at Warrior Softball Field. The Warriors open the tournament on Thursday, February 12, with a 2:00 p.m. matchup against Dominican University of California. Stan State will then face Central Washington on Friday, February 13, at 11:30 a.m., followed by another meeting with the Wildcats on Saturday, February 14, at 7:00 p.m. The invitational wraps up Sunday, February 15, with games against Saint Martin's University at 9:00 a.m. and Menlo College at 2:00 p.m.
