Kingsmen Rout Tigers; 13 runs, 17 hits on Senior Day

Kingsmen Rout Tigers; 13 runs, 17 hits on Senior Day

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — California Lutheran University took care of busy on Senior Day and routed the Occidental Tigers 13–5 on Friday afternoon.

Before the game, the Kingsmen honored Zach Bullard, Harrison Dunkel, and Ben Wangrin. The Kingsmen improved to 25-13 overall and 14-8 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). The Purple and Gold sit in the fourth spot in the SCIAC and could move up to the third on the final day of the regular season on Saturday.

Cal Lutheran exploded for 13 runs and 17 hits against the Tigers. Brendan Durfee and Kyle Reuser both had three hits while Sean Blandino, Bullard, Max Heverly, Zach Lafata and Will Watson each had two.  

Six Kingsmen doubled in the game as Blandino, Bullard, Durfee, Heverly, Lafata and Reuser each recorded an extra-base hit. Blandino led the team with 3 RBI and Durfee, Heverly and Reuser each had two. 

The Kingsmen found themselves in a 3-0 hole after the top of the first, and immediately responded in the bottom. Bullard got the scoring started with a RBI double. Durfee was up next and delivered a 2-RBI double down the right line. 

Chris Torres was on the mound and got the first two batters out. Errors kept the inning alive for the Tigers and none of the runs scored were earned. Torres continued his dominance over the Tigers and sat down 10 straight batters stretching from the final out of the first inning through the fourth. Torres went 7.0 innings in all, gave up just five hits with one earned run, and struck out six. 

Cal Lutheran picked back up the scoring in the third. The Kingsmen scored five runs and opened up their lead. All five runs came after two out. Blandino singled up the middle scoring two, Austin Carrillo singled in one run and Heverly doubled scoring two more. 

The Kingsmen added three more runs in the bottom of the seventh. Bladino hit a RBI double down the left field line and Reuser added a 2-RBI double to left center. 

Watson came in to relieve Torres. He pitched a perfect inning and struck out one. Matt Campo came in for the ninth and finished the job.

Cal Lutheran is away for the last doubleheader of the regular season. The Kingsmen look to sweep Occidental on Saturday and the doubleheader starts at 11 a.m.

Box Score: CLU 13, OXY 5
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director