Frazier Silences Blues’ Bats; Kingsmen Earn Second Consecutive Win in Tucson

Troy Frazier threw six innings of shutout baseball while racking up 11 strikeouts.
Troy Frazier threw six innings of shutout baseball while racking up 11 strikeouts.

TUCSON, Ariz. – In a game that was called after six innings due to a sprinkler delay that left the field in an unplayable condition, Troy Frazier's complete game shutout lifted Cal Lutheran over Whitman as the Kingsmen improve to 2-0 after picking up the 2-0 victory.

Frazier was excellent in his first start of the season, going six innings without allowing a run and only surrendering two hits on the night. The senior tallied a career-high 11 strikeouts to keep the Blues' bats quiet for the entirety of the contest.

Harrison Dunkel earned the start at shortstop and was the only Kingsmen to record a multi-hit night, going 2-for-2 with a run scored. Austin Carrillo was productive at the plate with a 1-for-1 day while drawing two walks. Joseph Scalzo also picked up a knock and also drew a walk in his three plate appearances.

Frazier was on the bump to start the contest and he cruised through the first inning. Despite allowing a leadoff walk in the second frame, Frazier and Jalen Parks combined for the strikeout-him-out-throw-him-out double play to end the threat.

The Kingsmen opened the scoring in the top half of the third inning. Dunkel landed himself at first base to start the rally.  He provided the spark the offense needed with a well-placed drag bunt that looped over the pitcher's head and rolled to the Blues' shortstop, allowing Dunkel to beat the throw with ease. 

Back-to-back walks by Tanner Wright and Carrillo would load the bases with no outs, but a 6-4-3 double play would help Whitman minimize the damage. Dunkel would score from third on the twin-killing and Wright would eventually come across on a wild pitch to put the Kingsmen up 2-0.

CLU drew a couple walks to start the fourth but yet another double play would end the rally as the Kingsmen were unable to extend their lead despite the promising start to the inning.

The missed opportunities would begin to mount as Cal Lutheran loaded the bases in the fifth but were once again unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

Frazier's no-hit bid came to an end in the home half of the fifth with a two-out knock, but the senior punched out two Blues to move things along to the sixth inning. The right-hander tossed another scoreless frame, picking up two more strikeouts to complete his masterful outing.

Cal Lutheran had runners on base in the top of the seventh but their chances of scoring were cut short when the sprinklers were activated at the Kino Sports Complex. This would effectively end the game after the field was deemed to be unplayable. 

CLU looks to make it three straight wins Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. (9 a.m. MST) when the Kingsmen face Sul Ross State back at the Kino Sports Complex.

Box ScoreCLU 2, WC 0
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Release by Jeff Rebello, Assistant Sports Information Director