PASADENA, Calif. – Cal Lutheran used another offensive explosion and some gritty pitching in game two of the doubleheader to complete the sweep of Caltech and remain undefeated, Saturday afternoon at North Field.
The Kingsmen (7-0, 3-0 SCIAC) banged out 33 hits in the doubleheader and scored a total of 18 runs. Ryne Yamashiro had a fantastic day swinging the bat for the Purple and Gold, going 4-for-6 in the two games. Tanner Wright was 5-for-9, notching back-to-back multi-hit games for himself.
Game 1
Mason Snodgrass got the nod for the second time this season and picked up the hard-earned win to improve to 2-0 on the season. The Santa Rosa, Calif. native allowed three earned runs with four strikeouts in his five innings of work.
A trio of freshmen helped highlighted Cal Lutheran's stellar offensive performance as Austin Carrillo, Joseph Scalzo and Sam Cooper each registered a multi-hit day at the plate. Carrillo recorded a three-hit game for the second straight contest while Scalzo launched his second home run in his 2-for-5 day. Cooper slapped a pair of doubles as he went 2-for-3 in the game with an RBI and run scored.
The Kingsmen got the started they wanted in the first game of the day, bringing three runs across in the top of the first. Wright led things off with a solid base hit to center field and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Probst. Hits from Daniel Parr and Yamashiro kept the line moving and CLU would find themselves ahead 3-0 after the first half inning.
The Beavers would respond, however, with four runs in the home half to take the lead.
A run in the top of the second, courtesy of a Sam Cooper double and Austin Carrillo infield single, would tie the score at 4-4.
Cal Lutheran brought two more runs to the plate in the third before breaking the game open with a four-run fourth inning. Carrillo led off the inning with his fourth double of the series. Scalzo provided the big swing the Kingsmen needed in the fourth inning when he blasted a two-run homer over the left-field wall. This was the freshman's second home run of the season.
CLU would creep toward the 10-run margin of victory in the following innings as they tacked on two in the fifth and another in the sixth to make it 13-4.
The hosts avoided the 10-run mercy rule and mounted quite the comeback starting in the bottom of the sixth. Caltech roared back into the game with five runs in the sixth and one run in the seventh to make it 13-10.
Tyler Hazlett acted as the human fire extinguisher, ending the threat in the sixth inning. The junior was very effective in his relief appearance tossing 2.1 innings without allowing an earned run while also picking up two strikeouts.
Christian Slattery came on to pitch the ninth and worked around an error to earn his second save of the year.
Game 2
The second game of the twin bill featured far less offense as pitching finally came to the forefront. Zach Hardman toed the rubber for the Kingsmen and did a very good job of keeping the Beavers' hitters off-balance in is eight innings of work. The junior racked up eight strikeouts to earn his first win of the season.
The Purple and Gold wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning when they put up a two spot to take the lead. Tanner Wright led off the game with frozen rope to right field for a single. Probst continued his fantastic day at the plate with another hit to score Wright as the Kingsmen struck first. The Pleasanton, Calif. native eventually came around to score on a wild pitch and CLU felt comfortable with their 2-0 advantage.
Caltech brought a runner to the plate in the bottom half of the second but Cal Lutheran replied with a three-run third inning after six consecutive hits from Yamashiro, Parr, Zach Bullard, Jalen Parks, Daniel Stauffer and Kyle Reuser.
Bullard got the extra base hit CLU was looking for when he tripled to right center, scoring Parr from second.
The bats would go quiet until the fifth inning when Caltech's Cortland Perry launched a solo shot to make it 5-2.
Hardman did well for eight complete innings before handing the ball off to Slattery in the ninth. The senior closer made quick work of the Beavers, grabbing his third save of the year to complete the series sweep.
CLU looks to continue the win streak when they resume SCIAC play on Feb. 21 at 2:30 to face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at Bill Arce Field.
Box Score: CLU 13, CIT 11 | CLU 5, CIT 2
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Release by Jeff Rebello, Assistant Sports Information Director
