ORANGE, Calif. — Sean Blandino made the defensive play of the game in the bottom of the eighth with a dart from right field to get the Panther baserunner out at home. It gave California Lutheran University baseball the momentum in the top of the ninth and a double by Austin Carrillo made Blandino the go-ahead run. 

Will Watson pitched the eighth and the ninth, recording the win, as the No. 4 Kingsmen took down top-seeded Chapman 4-3 on Friday afternoon to start the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Postseason Tournament. 

The tournament is double-elimination. The losing teams of Chapman and Pomona-Pitzer will play the first game tomorrow at 10 a.m. Cal Lutheran and La Verne continue in the winner's bracket with first pitch set for 2 p.m. 

It was a clutch performance for the Kingsmen as they found themselves in an early 3-0 hole. Chris Torres was on the mound and weathered the storm. After giving up two runs in the first and a solo home run in the fourth, he settled in as the Cal Lutheran offense responded. 

Blandino played hero-ball multiple times in the game and got the Purple and Gold on the board as a single up the middle scored Watson and Joseph Scalzo. However, the Kingsmen were still down as had some work to do. 

Torres went 7.0 innings, giving up six hits and three eaned runs. He struck out three batters, stranded many Panthers on base, and got the side out in the seventh as his brothers went to work, offensively. 

With one out in the top of the eight, Max Heverly doubled down the left field line, putting the tying run in scoring position. Next up was Zach Bullard and he delivered a clutch double to tie the game. Brendan Durfee was next up and singled to get runners to the corners with one out. The Kingsmen could not convert and the game went to the bottom of the inning.

Chapman looked for a quick answer. With two outs and runners on first and second, the Panthers hit a ball to right field. The Panthers decided to test the arm of Blandino and he was up for the challenge. Blandino threw a lazer all the way to the catcher and Durfee tagged the runner out at the plate. 

It was the momentum the Kingsmen needed as the game headed to the ninth. With two outs and Blandino at second, he stole to get into scoring position. It was Carrillo's turn for a moment as a double to right center gave Cal Lutheran the lead. 

Watson got the first two batters out in the ninth, and after a walk, put the Panthers away and the Kingsmen moved on. 

Cal Lutheran improved to 27-14 with the win, picking up a big win in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament. 

Box Score: CLU 4, CU 3
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director