THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The California Lutheran University baseball team hosted its first doubleheader of the year as they welcomed Whitworth University to George "Sparky" Anderson Field and Ullman Stadium on Saturday. The Kingsmen opened the day with a 6-4 win and then finished with a decisive 18-5 victory in six innings. 

In game one, the Pirates jumped all over the Kingsmen. Max Kendall got his first start for the Purple and Gold. He struck out five batters over 2.2 innings pitched but gave up three earned runs and had four walks. 

Tristan Dupont came on in relief and went against the Whitworth bats over the next 3.1 innings. He allowed just one earned run and struck out three, getting his first win of the season. 

The Kingsmen bats responded just like they needed to. Brendan Durfee got the scoring going with a sac fly in the bottom of the fourth. Cal Lutheran then turned things around in the sixth. After scoring on a batter being hit by a pitch and a passed ball, the Kingsmen were down just 4-3. Nick Fusari delivered the lead as a double through the right side scored two runs and put his team up for good. 

The relief pitching continued to be on point for the second straight game as Clay Rickerman, Will Watson and Matt Campo combined for one hit and six strikeouts over three innings. Campo punched out the final out and got the save. 

Max Heverly and Kyle Reuser led the team with two hits, Nolan Brooks had two runs, while Fusari had the team-leading two RBI. Brooks and Heverly both joined Fusari in the double column and had one apiece. 

In game two, the Kingsmen found themselves down early again and trailed 5-1 heading to the bottom of the second. Cal Lutheran scored an unprecedented eight runs in the inning and took control. 

After the next two innings were scoreless for both teams, Cal Lutheran broke through again in the fifth. The Kingsmen unloaded on the Pirates and scored nine runs to take a commanding 18-5 lead. The game was called after six innings and the Kingsmen started the year 3-0. 

Max Heverly led the way with five RBI, Bullard added three off a bases-clearing double and Zach Lafata had two more. 

Luke Wechsler got the win as he came on in relief and pitched 2.2 innings with five strikeouts. 

Cal Lutheran will have its chance to sweep Whitworth as the teams play Sunday morning at 10 a.m. 

Box Score: CLU 6, WHU 4; CLU 18, WHU 5 – 6 Inns.
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director