WHITTIER, Calif. – Kingsmen baseball traveled to Whittier for a double header and took game one in a mercy rule 13-2. Game two ended with a walk off from the Poets to end it 8-7.
Max Kendall started on the mound for the Purple and Gold and stayed there for six innings tallying five strike outs. Nathan Chapman closed out the game and pitched for the final inning.
The scoring started early with a two RBI double from Will Watson. In the top of the second Nick Fusari continued to put the Kingsmen on the board and delivered another double to center field sending another runner across home plate. Austin Carrillo, coming off a great day at the plate yesterday, singled up the middle, scoring Fusari and giving the Kingsmen the 4-0 lead as they entered the bottom of the second.
Kyle Reuser had a two RBI double in the top of the fourth to continue the Kingsmen momentum. The Poets couldn't catch a break as veteran Zach Bullard stepped to the plate, smacking a double into left field sending Reuser home.
Entering the top of the seventh the Purple and Gold were up 9-2. Reuser didn't lay off the gas and hit one into left center getting himself to third base and recording two RBIs. Bullard came up again and doubled to right field while tacking on another run. To finish off the scoring and the game was Brendan Durfee with a double to left center that sent Bullard home and ended the game 13-2.
Zach Lafata was a huge contributor as he went four for four at the plate and counted for three of the Kingsmen runs.
Game two was in favor of the Kingsmen until the Poets scored a few late runs.
Zach Creighton started on the mound and remained there for 3.1 innings, bagging six strike outs. Tristan Dupont stepped in after Creighton and pitched for 2.1 innings with two strike outs to his name.
Clay Rickerman came to the mound for 1.2 innings and Matt Campo finished it off for 1.1 innings.
The scoring started in the top of the second for the Purple and Gold with a single from Ben Wangrin that sent Watson across home. Shortly after that, Fusari delivered a single to right field to get Wangrin home.
The scoring resumed in the top of the third when Jalen Parks tallied an RBI with his single through the left side.
Bullard sent one out of the park in the top of the fifth to get himself and Carrillo home. Lafata followed Bullard's lead in the top of the sixth with a homer to left field. This scored Parks and himself to take the 7-5. Lafata's homer ended the scoring for the Kingsmen.
The Kingsmen are back in the diamond on Friday at Pomona Pitzer. First pitch is at 3 pm.
Box Score: CLU 13, WC 2; CLU 7, WC 8
CLU Instagram: @clusports
Sport IG: @kingsmen_baseball
CLU Twitter: @CLUSports
Sport Twitter: @CLUBaseball
CLU Facebook: @clusports
Hashtags: #clusports #ownthethrone #goregals #gokingsmen #theSCIAC #ncaad3
Release by Cate Boller, Assistant Sports Information Director
