RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- There is little room for error in what has turned out to be a very competitive and balanced PacWest Conference this season, so every win here on out is precious for California Baptist University. Even so, the Lancers' doubleheader sweep of Hawaii Pacific was crucial. 

Each win Saturday over the Sharks at James W. Totman Stadium was done in a different way. A complete-game effort from Tyson Miller and huge two-run, pinch-hit single from Taylor Wetzel keyed a 2-1 win over HPU to start the day, and an all-around offensive outburst and quality start from Jeremy McDonald led to a 7-4 victory in the finale. CBU improves 12-12, 4-2 in conference and Hawaii Pacific, the NCBWA's eighth-ranked team in the NCAA Division II West Region, is now 12-7, 9-5. 

HPU and CBU conclude their four-game series with a Monday doubleheader starting at 3 p.m.

Just eight days removed from a complete-game at Academy of Art, Miller was tabbed to start a series for the first time at CBU. He did not disappoint, allowing just six hits and one earned run, while striking out three. He threw all nine innings on fewer than 100 pitches, outdueling HPU's Rico Garcia.

"Tyson was unbelievable, he was getting us off the field quickly and he helped us build some momentum," Wetzel said. "We couldn't have asked for anything more from him."

While CBU's offense was held in check to start Saturday, Miller was assisted by three double plays. The biggest came in the third inning, which was started with a leadoff double. Hawaii Pacific moved its runner to third and appeared to have the first run when a line drive into center field brought the runner home. Lancer catcher Stephen Lohr quickly relayed a throw home from Andy Crowley to third, and the third-base umpire ruled the Sharks' runner left early, resulting in an inning-ending double play. 

In what was a pitcher's duel through and through, Hawaii Pacific managed to break the deadlock with the first run in the top of the seventh. Needing an answer, Lohr drew a leadoff walk in the bottom half and was sacrificed over on an A.J. David bunt. Tyler Johnson drew a big walk and Lohr moved over to third on a wild pitch, while Alec Morabito came in to run at first. Morabito got a great jump and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. 

CBU Coach Gary Adcock called on Wetzel in the clutch. The sophomore came through and used an inside-out swing to line an 0-1 slider into right center and score Lohr and Morabito, giving the Lancers a 2-1 edge. 

"We just needed a swing, and I was confident I could get it done," Wetzel said. "I got a pitch up and I was able to get a good swing on it. I just wanted to get the RBI in and hit it hard somewhere on the ground. I was just able to get it over second base and that was great."

Despite a dangerous top of the eighth, marked by two errors, Miller never came out of the game. He came up with a big pop out to end the eighth and then retired the Sharks 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to seal the victory.

"I am happy coach has enough confidence in me by letting me go back out there in the ninth," Miller said. "I tried to pay him back with a good ninth." 

In the second game, HPU managed to take a 1-0 lead with two hits in the top of the first. McDonald settled down from there and went seven strong, allowing just six hits, one walk and striking out five. He would not allow another run.

Offensively, the Lancers picked McDonald up and compiled 18 hits in the victory. Zack Norris, Andy Crowley and Antonio Chavarria each had three hits in the game. Wetzel, Luke Navigato and Jake Gallaway all had two hits. 

It all got started on back-to-back homers from Wetzel and Chavarria in the bottom of the third. Both players turned on pitches, Wetzel skying one into left field and Chavarria crushing his to right. 

"He was struggling to find his zone, it was 2-0 and I was just looking for a pitch I could drive and I got it," Wetzel said. "That's my first back-to-back I've ever been apart of personally. That really pumped us up, they say hitting is contagious and that got us going the rest of the way."

CBU took its 2-1 lead into the fourth, but was not at all content. A five-run fourth gave the Lancers a 7-1 lead, and the rally started on a leadoff Navigato single. An error and bunt single from Gallaway loaded the bases. Norris doubled into right center, scoring two runs, and Crowley executed a perfect bunt single to score another. Lohr was hit by a pitch to reload the bases, and Chavarria plated two more runners with a double into the corner in right field.  

HPU managed to turn the game into a save situation, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth and bringing the potential-tying run to the plate with two outs. The Lancers turned to Austen Zimarik and he quickly struck out the one batter he faced to strand runners at the corners and earn his second save of the season.

"We are going into a long week, and we know we need to take care of these games," Wetzel said. "This doubleheader sweep is big, hopefully it gives us a lot of momentum going into Monday."