Kingsmen Slug Their Way to Huge Win Over Gents

Cal Lutheran improves to 10-0 after exploding for 16 runs on 19 hits in Wednesday's win over Centenary. (Photo Credit: Mariah Zermeno)
Cal Lutheran improves to 10-0 after exploding for 16 runs on 19 hits in Wednesday's win over Centenary. (Photo Credit: Mariah Zermeno)

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Cal Lutheran bats were hot in their midweek matchup with non-conference opponent Centenary (La.), and stayed perfect in the 2020 season with their 16-4 victory over the Gents.

The Kingsmen (10-0, 5-0 SCIAC) exploded for 16 runs on 19 hits on Wednesday afternoon, taking control after a rough first inning. CLU quickly put the game out of reach after scoring 12 runs between the third, fourth and fifth innings.

Daniel Parr enjoyed a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate. The senior banged out two doubles and drove in four runs as he dealt the damage in the middle of the order. Ryne Yamashiro also tallied four RBI in the contest, going 2-for-4 with a triple. Austin Carrillo, Tanner Wright, Zach Bullard and Daniel Stauffer each racked up two hits in the game as eight of the nine starters in the Kingsmen lineup recorded a hit.

After Centenary managed to tag starting pitcher Nathan Chapman for four runs in the first inning, freshman Michael Effatian stopped the bleeding in his third-career appearance. The Woodland Hills, Calif. native tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just two hits.

He turned the ball over to Tyler Hazlett, who eventually earned the win after surrendering just one base runner in his two innings of work.

Cal Lutheran answered the call in the third inning, scoring twice to cut the lead in half. Kyle Reuser led things off with a solid line drive to center field. A walk from Wright set the table for Carrillo, who laid down a perfectly-placed bunt down the third base line to load the bases. A pair of sacrifice flies from Ryan Probst and Yamashiro made the score 4-2 heading into the fourth frame.

Chris Spohr led off the next inning with a single through the right side and Stauffer followed with an identical single of his own. A couple wild pitches brought Spohr around to score before Carrillo kept the rally alive with another base hit to right field, scoring Stauffer. Back-to-back hits from Yamashiro and Parr made it a 7-4 ballgame and suddenly the Kingsmen were confidently in the lead.

Another five-run inning essentially put the game out of reach in the next frame. Stauffer slapped a double down the left-field line to put himself in scoring position. A base hit from Wright and a walk from Probst kept the line moving. Yamashiro came to the plate with runners in scoring position and blasted a ball off the wall in right-center field to plate two more runs. Bullard earned his second hit of the day to bring another run across and Cal Lutheran would find themselves ahead 12-4.

Mason Snodgrass, Clay Rickerman and Zach Hardman shut the door for the next three frames, keeping the Gents off the board as they each pitched a scoreless inning down the stretch.

The Kingsmen pushed four more runs across in what would prove to be the final inning. Nick Rhoades made the most of his pinch-hit opportunity, launching a double into the left-center gap and picking up an RBI. Hits from Matt Sciumbato, Sean Blandino and Joseph Scalzo helped seal the 16-4 victory as the sun set at George "Sparky" Anderson Field.

The game would be called one inning short due to darkness, ending the contest after eight innings.

The Kingsmen stay at George "Sparky" Anderson Field for a very important conference matchup with No. 1 Chapman on Feb. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

Box Score: CLU 16, CC 4
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Release by Jeff Rebello, Assistant Sports Information Director