Thousand Oaks, Calif. — After falling 5-2 in game one of the double header, Troy Frazier pitched eight innings of one-run ball to set up the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen for a 3-1 win over the Chapman Panthers in game two.
The Kingsmen struggled offensively in game one of the afternoon, recording just one hit by Max Weinstein on a single to center field in the bottom of the third. Both runs for Cal Lutheran came later in the fifth sparked by lead-off hitter Ethan Go taking a pitch off the arm. Daniel Parr laid down the sacrifice bunt to move him second, and consecutive walks to Tanner Wright and Weinstein loaded the bases for Ryne Yamashiro who was hit by a pitch to score Go. Kaden White then worked a walk of his own to score the Kingsmen's second run.
Cal Lutheran would ultimately fall to strong pitching by Chapman's Tyler Peck and Jonathan Hernandez. Peck got the nod to start the game and went 4 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits while walking four and striking out three. Hernandez followed with 4 1/3 shutout innings, walking one and striking out two.
However, the Kingsmen had no struggle with their bats in game two, finishing with 11 hits off five different Chapman pitchers. Anthony Sidley led the offense, finishing 3-for-4 with an RBI. White also notched a multi-hit afternoon, going 2-for-3 with a run and a RBI.
On the mound for the Kingsmen, Frazier pitched eight innings, allowing just one run on six hits while walking one and striking out six. He remains a perfect 4-0 on the season. Head coach Marty Slimak then turned to closer Christian Slattery who pitched a perfect 1-2-3 ninth inning and struck out two swinging.
At the plate, Sidley opened up scoring for the Kingsmen early in the first off a single to left to bring Alec Iniguez home. Two innings later, Yamashiro singled up the middle set up the Kingsmen's go-ahead run. With White in the box, Yamashiro stole second before making his way home on White's single to left center.
The Panthers cut the deficit to one in the fourth on a single from Jarod Penniman to score Andrew Mendonca. However, the Kingsmen were able to push their lead back after Cortez Espinoza worked a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.
The win moves Cal Lutheran to 16-12 on the season and 6-9 in SCIAC play. The Kingsmen return to Ullman Stadium Friday, April 6, against the Whittier Poets at 3 p.m. PST.
Box Score: CU 5, CLU 2; CLU 3, CU 1
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Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director
