CLAREMONT, Calif. – Kingsmen baseball bounce back from a tough game one loss 1-11 to take the series after an electric ninth inning in game two. Their five hit ninth inning put them up 8-6 and secured the series.
Alexander Rivas started on the mound and lasted four innings before being relieved. Luke Wechsler came in for one inning and Nathan Chapman pitched for two. To finish off game one was Gregory Pimentel for .2 innings.
Brendan Durfee hit a SAC fly in the top of the sixth to score Kyle Reuser for the Kingsmen solo run in game one.
Max Kendall, returning from injury, started on the mound for the Purple and Gold and pitched 3.1 innings. John Frazier relieved Kendall and pitched for the following two innings. Will Watson stood on the mound for two innings and tallied three strike outs. Clay Rickerman stepped in and secured the win for the Kingsmen. To pitch the final inning and record the save was Matt Campo.
Zach Bullard delivered on offense for the Kingsmen with a home run and three RBIs. Gordon Richardson, Sean Blandino, Durfee and Reuser all recorded one RBI.
The scoring started early in game two for the Kingsmen with a quick 2-0 lead after the first inning. Bullard got his first RBI of the day off a single to right field that sent Max Heverly across home off an error.
Following Bullard was a ground out by Durfee that scored Austin Carrillo.
Bullard was the lone run in the top of the third from a home run to center field. This put the Purple and Gold ahead 3-1.
The Stags steadily fought back and were leading 6-3 heading into the top of the ninth. The Kingsmen lit up the batter's box and scored five runs to take the lead and eventually win the game.
The scoring started with Heverly across home plate off a single to left field from Reuser. Bullard got his third and final RBI of the day with a another single to left field that scored Carrillo. A few batters later was Richardson who reached first off an error by third base, scoring Resuer. Blandino sent Bullard in for another run with a double to center field. The final run was from Richardson off a passed ball.
To end the game in comeback fashion and secure the series was a double play in the bottom of the ninth.
The Kingsmen are back in the diamond on Friday on the road against Redlands. First pitch is at 3 pm.
Box Score: CLU 1, CMS 11; CLU 8, CMS 6
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Release by Cate Boller, Assistant Sports Information Director
