THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — After falling 9-7 in game one of Saturday's double header, the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen soared past the Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) Lutes 20-1 in game two.
Lead-off hitter Max Weinstein led the offense, finishing 6-for-9 on the day with three runs and a RBI, while Ryne Yamashiro collected his 15th and 16th multi-hit games of the year, going 4-for-8 with three runs and four RBI.
On the mound for the Kingsmen in game one, Derek Galvin was able to minimize early damage, working himself out of jams to allow just two runs in the first three innings. The Kingsmen backed him early as well, posting four runs in the bottom of the first on RBI-singles by Yamashiro and Anthony Sidley and a fielding error by the Lute's second baseman that allowed two unearned runs.
But Galvin could not hold onto the lead as he gave up an RBI-single to Connor Cantu and loaded the bases for Cole Johnson who took him deep for a grand slam in the fourth inning. Kaden White's RBI in the bottom half of the inning brought the Kingsmen back to within just one run, but Pacific Lutheran was able to tack on two more in the fifth and Yamashiro's RBI-double in the eighth came up short for the win.
Things turned around quickly for the Kingsmen, however, as their bats came alive in game two, stunning spectators all over the stadium.
Matt Sciumbato and Weinstein got the party started for the Kingsmen with early RBIs to put Cal Lutheran on the board in the first and fifth innings, respectively. Weston Clark and Tanner Wright then combined to break the score open to 7-0 in the bottom of the sixth.
However, the real excitement began in the seventh. Kaden White singled up the middle to start the inning followed by a walk to Sciumbato. Then back-to-back doubles by Clark and Cheynne Giles started the team's scoring spree. Lute's pitcher Nathan Anderson then allowed three consecutive singles to Junior Sandoval, Weinstein and Trevor Egan to reload the bases.
Hot-hitter as of late, Yamashiro, then doubled down the left field line to bring in two more runs. Pinch-hitter Chris Spohr then showed off his speed on a triple to right field to pick up two RBIs of his own. Jeff Wilson closed out the breakout inning with a single to left to bring home Spohr.
All-in-all, the Kingsmen utilized five pinch hitters and scored nine runs on nine hits in the inning alone, their highest number of runs in a single inning this season. Not to mention, busting the score open 16-0.
Though they weren't done yet. The Lutes managed to put a run on the board on a fielding error in the top of the eighth, but the Kingsmen answered right back with a three-run shot over the left field wall by pinch-hitter Nick Coast and a solo shot by Daniel Parr over nearly the same spot.
The Kingsmen had broken the score open to 20-1 on 21 hits by 14 different men, 11 of them collecting RBIs. Defensively, Cal Lutheran pitchers left without allowing a single earned run in the ball game. Starter Troy Frazier picked up his fifth win of the season, going seven scoreless innings and allowed just five hits with one walk and three strikeouts. His relievers Mason Snodgrass and Nick Maldonado continued suit, pitching an inning apiece with a strikeout each and three hits between them.
Cal Lutheran looks to keep their offensive momentum rolling next weekend against the Cal Tech Beavers. The Kingsmen start the series in Pasadena, Friday, April 20th, with game one set for 3 p.m. PST.
Box Score: PLU 9, CLU 7; CLU 20, PLU 1
Baseball Instagram: @kingsmen_baseball
Baseball Twitter: @CLUBaseball
CLU Instagram: @clusports
CLU Twitter: @CLUSports
CLU Facebook: CLU Sports
Hashtags: #clusports #goregals #gokingsmen #ownthethrone #theSCIAC #ncaad3
Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director