WALLA WALLA, Wash. — Cal Lutheran baseball wrapped up non-conference play with a sweep, taking both games of their doubleheader with Whitman College on Saturday. The Kingsmen won game one, 10-6, and game two, 6-3.
The Kingsmen improved to 23-13 this year and are a clean 6-0 against Northwest Conference competition.
Game One
The Kingsmen exploded for six runs over the first three innings, getting two in the first, three in the second and one in the third. Brendan Durfee and Sebastian Smith had two RBI each and Zach Lafata added one. Smith homered in the top of the second.
The Blues slowly chipped away at the lead and tied the game at 6-6 through six innings. Luke Wechsler got the start and went 5.1 innings. He struck out nine, but gave up five hits and four earned runs. Max Kendall relieved him, but gave up four hits and two earned runs over 1.1 innings.
Milan Bugarin was next on the mound. He went 1.1 innings, with two strikeouts, and picked up the win. Clay Rickerman finished off the Blues with 1.0 inning and two strikeouts.
The Kingsmen answered the call with three runs in the eighth and one in the ninth. Lafata scored on an error, Josh Quinn hit a sacrifice fly scoring Durfee, and Sean Blandino hit a solo home run to close out the game.
Game Two
John Frazier was on the mound and got the win as the Kingsmen picked up the sweep. He went 7.1 innings, allowing just one hit and one earned run. He struck out six as he dominated the Blues' batters. Rickerman wrapped up the game and got the save. He pitched 1.0 innings and struck out two.
The Kingsmen scored early and often, just as they did in the first game. They scored two runs in the first, one in the second, two in the third. Durfee recorded 2 RBI, Lafata and Quinn both added one. Reuser scored on a passed ball.
Cal Lutheran added one more tack-on run in the eighth as Griffin Zitko recorded a RBI. The Blues tried a comeback and scored three in the eighth, but that was as close as they would get.
The Kingsmen jump back into conference and have one more series in the regular season. Cal Lutheran hosts Chapman on Friday at 3 pm.
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