Fireworks at Totman

Thursday, April 16

Riverside

6 PM

California Baptist University

23-16, 15-6

Azusa Pacific

24-15, 16-9

Azusa Pacific

California Baptist

Photo by: Lauren Garcia

4/16/2015 8:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- With the top-two offensive and home-run hitting teams in the PacWest squaring off, there was bound to be fireworks when Azusa Pacific visited Totman Stadium to open up a four-game series with California Baptist University Thursday night.

CBU really looked to light up the night in the bottom of the ninth. Despite going into their final at-bats down three runs and having their first two batters retired in the inning, the Lancers managed to score a run and load the bases to put the potential tying run at second. The conference-rival Cougars were able to take a deep sigh of relief when they finally recorded the final out to secure the 6-4 victory to open the series, however, improving to 26-13, 16-9 in conference and dropping CBU to 23-16, 15-6.

Even with two of the top pitchers in the PacWest starting on the mound, offense provided all the early highlights for both sides. Adam Hofacket was able to go toe-to-toe with APU ace Josh Staumont, a highly-coveted prospect for the upcoming MLB draft. Hofacket went eight strong, striking out more batters than the base runners he allowed, with 10 putouts to seven hits and one walk. Only three of the five runs he allowed were earned.

APU started the night out with a bang, with a solo homer giving it a quick 1-0 lead. The pitcher's duel everyone expected appeared nowhere to be found when CBU answered back to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom half. Zack Norris started the inning with a leadoff walk for the Lancers, and a two-strike double skied off the left-field fence from Andy Crowley scored Norris easily. A grounder moved Crowley over to third with one out, and Stephen Lohr cashed him in with a clutch hit up the middle with two strikes.

Although the first inning came to an end, CBU kept pace with the visitors in the long-ball category, as Brian Ruhm blasted a solo shot to deep center to start the bottom of the second and give the Lancers a 3-1 edge.

Both pitchers settled down from there, with the Cougars scoring an unearned run in the third and fifth innings to tie the game again at 3-3. APU continued charging and a two-out walk led to a two-run homer from slugger Jordan Brower to give the visitors a 5-3 edge in the eighth inning. The Cougars added an insurance run in the ninth to lead 6-3 heading into the final half inning.

Despite APU going to its trusted closer in the bottom of the ninth and him retiring the first batters he faced, the Lancers never gave up. Ruhm started a little something when he was hit by a pitch, and Taylor Wetzel continued to be clutch this season with a pinch-hit single through the left side. Alec Morabito, another pinch hitter, found a way to get on base when he swung at the first pitch he saw and made contact with the catcher's glove, earning him first base and loading the bases on the interference. Norris kept the inning alive with a huge single through the right side, which scored Ruhm. CBU could not come up with one last hit, as it was turned away to end the comeback.