RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- No. 8 California Baptist University started Saturday trailing No. 7 Biola by half a game in the GSAC standings.
By days end the Lancers had eeked out 3-2 and 2-1 victories, to put themselves a game and a half ahead in the conference standings and in position to possibly move up in the NAIA rankings.
“That team matches up really well against us and it was a tough day, but I’m pleased with the results,” said Head Coach Gary Adcock. “
The Lancers used six doubles to score three of their five runs on the day and got 14.2 total innings out of their starters in the victories.
Erik Wallace threw 7.2 solid innings in the opener, but took a no-decision as he left with the game tied 2-2.
In both games the Lancers struck first, getting an RBI single from Jake Johnson in the second inning of the opener, after Josh Manzano led off with a double to center-field.
The Eagles would answer in the fourth, loading the bases with no outs in the inning, but scoring just one run on a fielder’s choice. Wallace struck out the final two batters of the inning to work his way out of the jam.
CBU struck again in the fifth, getting a pair of doubles en route to a 2-1 lead. The Eagles again answered quickly, though, as Mac Sullivan smacked a homer to right-center, evening the score at 2-2.
Patrick Smith replaced Wallace with two outs in the eighth inning and a runner on first, but made sure to keep the score tied by striking out Sullivan in his next at-bat.
CBU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the eighth and Manzano plated what would end up being the winning run with a deep sacrifice fly to center field.
Smith came in and stranded a runner at second base in the top of the ninth to seal the victory. Smith moves to 3-0 on the year with the win.
“I let our starters work out of their jams today,” said Adcock. “I was a starter and loved when my coach would leave me in so that’s one reason. We are also a little shorthanded in the bullpen right now and that contributed to it. Our guys did great work and got us the wins, though.”
Devyn Rivera got the nod from Adcock in the late game and made the most of it, throwing the complete seven innings to move to 7-1 on the year. It was Rivera’s 10th appearance and ninth start of the season. Rivera allowed just three hits and one run, while striking out six in the win.
It was again back-to-back doubles that opened the scoring for CBU with Brian Sharp driving in Kevin Odom to put the Lancers up 1-0.
After Rivera worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth inning, CBU capitalized, going up 2-0 on a solo-home run by Zach Esquerra in the bottom half of the inning. It was Esquerra’s team-leading 15th homer of the season.
Biola threatened in the sixth inning, loading the bases for the third time on the day, but again could only manage one run on a fielders choice, as Rivera was able to work his way out of another jam.
The Eagles would not go quietly in the seventh either, getting two runners on with no outs. Sharif Othman, who was making his program record 202nd career start in the late game, caught Michael Andrews trying to steal third and Rivera struck out the final two batters to end the game.
“Even when they would get guys on or I would walk a couple batters, I felt like my stuff was good,” said Rivera. “I was just glad coach left me in and we got the win. This was big for our team.”
“I don’t get as nervous when Devyn gets guys on base, because he has good swing and miss stuff and can get some strikeouts when we need them,” said Adcock.
The Lancers improve to 33-10 overall, 20-8 GSAC and take over first place in the conference standings with eight conference games remaining. Biola falls to 24-14, 18-9 on the season.
“We’ve gone through some adversity this season that we didn’t go through last year, and by no means is it over with two tough opponents still remaining, but my hope is that it has seasoned us so we continue to perform at a high level in pressure situations,” said Adcock. “We just need to keep this momentum going.”
By days end the Lancers had eeked out 3-2 and 2-1 victories, to put themselves a game and a half ahead in the conference standings and in position to possibly move up in the NAIA rankings.
“That team matches up really well against us and it was a tough day, but I’m pleased with the results,” said Head Coach Gary Adcock. “
The Lancers used six doubles to score three of their five runs on the day and got 14.2 total innings out of their starters in the victories.
Erik Wallace threw 7.2 solid innings in the opener, but took a no-decision as he left with the game tied 2-2.
In both games the Lancers struck first, getting an RBI single from Jake Johnson in the second inning of the opener, after Josh Manzano led off with a double to center-field.
The Eagles would answer in the fourth, loading the bases with no outs in the inning, but scoring just one run on a fielder’s choice. Wallace struck out the final two batters of the inning to work his way out of the jam.
CBU struck again in the fifth, getting a pair of doubles en route to a 2-1 lead. The Eagles again answered quickly, though, as Mac Sullivan smacked a homer to right-center, evening the score at 2-2.
Patrick Smith replaced Wallace with two outs in the eighth inning and a runner on first, but made sure to keep the score tied by striking out Sullivan in his next at-bat.
CBU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the eighth and Manzano plated what would end up being the winning run with a deep sacrifice fly to center field.
Smith came in and stranded a runner at second base in the top of the ninth to seal the victory. Smith moves to 3-0 on the year with the win.
“I let our starters work out of their jams today,” said Adcock. “I was a starter and loved when my coach would leave me in so that’s one reason. We are also a little shorthanded in the bullpen right now and that contributed to it. Our guys did great work and got us the wins, though.”
Devyn Rivera got the nod from Adcock in the late game and made the most of it, throwing the complete seven innings to move to 7-1 on the year. It was Rivera’s 10th appearance and ninth start of the season. Rivera allowed just three hits and one run, while striking out six in the win.
It was again back-to-back doubles that opened the scoring for CBU with Brian Sharp driving in Kevin Odom to put the Lancers up 1-0.
After Rivera worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth inning, CBU capitalized, going up 2-0 on a solo-home run by Zach Esquerra in the bottom half of the inning. It was Esquerra’s team-leading 15th homer of the season.
Biola threatened in the sixth inning, loading the bases for the third time on the day, but again could only manage one run on a fielders choice, as Rivera was able to work his way out of another jam.
The Eagles would not go quietly in the seventh either, getting two runners on with no outs. Sharif Othman, who was making his program record 202nd career start in the late game, caught Michael Andrews trying to steal third and Rivera struck out the final two batters to end the game.
“Even when they would get guys on or I would walk a couple batters, I felt like my stuff was good,” said Rivera. “I was just glad coach left me in and we got the win. This was big for our team.”
“I don’t get as nervous when Devyn gets guys on base, because he has good swing and miss stuff and can get some strikeouts when we need them,” said Adcock.
The Lancers improve to 33-10 overall, 20-8 GSAC and take over first place in the conference standings with eight conference games remaining. Biola falls to 24-14, 18-9 on the season.
“We’ve gone through some adversity this season that we didn’t go through last year, and by no means is it over with two tough opponents still remaining, but my hope is that it has seasoned us so we continue to perform at a high level in pressure situations,” said Adcock. “We just need to keep this momentum going.”
