WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Kyle Reuser had four RBI, Chris Torres pitched 6.1 innings and Cal Lutheran baseball defeated Whitman College 8-5 on Friday afternoon. 

The Kingsmen are 4-0 against Northwest Conference competition, including a sweep of Whitworth early in the season. With the win, the Kingsmen improved to 21-13.

Torres started the game on the mound and had a strong outing. He struck out seven as he earned his sixth win of the season. He gave up just four hits and one earned run. 

The Kingsmen started strong and managed to score in the first inning. Reuser doubled to left center, bringing Sean Blandino home. 

Both teams were in a stand still over the next three innings and it was still 1-0 heading to the fifth. The Kingsmen found an opening in the Blues' defense in the top of the fifth. Reuser hit his second double, and brought home Zach Lafata and Blandino.

Cal Lutheran kept their momentum going during the top of the sixth. Blandino sent a ball sailing, bringing Max Heverly home. Reuser then added his fourth RBI as a sac fly brought Jalen Parks home. 

Dean Olsson pitched next and went just 0.1 of an inning. He gave up one hit and two earned runs. He was relieved by Bryan Tierney as he went 0.2 innings with just two hits. 

The Kingsmen continued to pile up the points, scoring three in the top of the seventh. Nathan Nykaza singled, bringing Heverly and Josh Quinn home. Lafata added the final point as a sac fly scored Parks.

The Blues tried to make a comeback as they put themselves on the board in the bottom of the seventh. They scored three runs in the seventh and added two more in the ninth, but were unable to catch the Kingsmen.  

Clay Rickerman was last to take the mound and finished the game. He went 1.2 innings, and the Kingsmen defense held strong, as the game finished 8-5. 

The Kingsmen and Blues continues the series on Saturday with a doubleheader. The first game starts at 12 pm. 

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