RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- It is rare an entire group of seniors can contribute to a win on Senior Day the way California Baptist University did in a doubleheader with Azusa Pacific on Saturday.

From a quality start and solid closing job on the mound to a home run, the Lancers' three seniors -- David Herd, Andy Crowley and Nathan Antoun -- helped deliver an 8-4 CBU victory over APU at James W. Totman Stadium. The PacWest-rival Cougars were able to bounce back in finale and win the second half of the doubleheader, 5-3, holding off another Lancer rally late. The series split moves CBU to 24-17, 17-7 in conference and APU to 27-14, 17-10. 

David Herd shined bright on the mound, throwing six innings, striking out seven and allowing seven hits, two walks and just one run. It was Crowley who had the honor to finish out the game. Antoun provided the big bat of the game. The designated hitter went 2-for-3 with a home run, three runs batted in and two scored. A.J. David, a junior, was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored in the opener. 

Offensively, CBU took advantage early to start Saturday. The bases were loaded quickly on a Zack Norris single, Crowley walk and Antonio Chavarria being hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first. Stephen Lohr singled through the right side to score the two lead runners before an out could be recorded. David chopped a ball over the first baseman and into right field to score Chavarria and move Lohr to third. Brian Ruhm laid down a beautiful suicide squeeze bunt to first base, plating Lohr and giving the Lancers a 4-0 lead after one inning.

In the third, Lohr led off with a walk, and he moved to third base on a David single into right field. Some heads up base running from David put both runners in scoring position, as he moved up to second on a throw to third base. Antoun started his big game with a two-RBI single, upping the advantage to 6-0. He added to his day with a monster solo home run down the right-field line in the sixth inning.

Bryce Macy finished the scoring for CBU in the eighth. Walks to Antoun and Jake Gallaway and a wild pitch put runners in scoring position with one out, allowing Macy to bring a run home with a line drive into center field.

Antoun, Lohr and David all went 3-for-6 in both games Saturday. Gallaway and Chavarria had hits in both games to each go 2-for-6. While he may not have had multiple hits, Macy's contribution was not to be overlooked for the Lancers. He started both games at catcher and had a perfect on-base percentage, reaching base all four times he came to the plate. He went 1-for-1 with an RBI and a run scored after drawing two walks and being hit by a pitch.

In the series finale, CBU fell behind early after APU got on the board in the top of the first. The Lancers bounced right back, with three-straight singles from Lohr, David and Antoun loading the bases with no outs in the second inning. Lohr scored on a double-play grounder to tie the game.

After falling behind 2-1, Macy worked his way to a full-count walk to start the third. Norris was walked right after. With no outs, Crowley looked to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but was unable to before the second strike was recorded, forcing him to swing away. It worked out for the Lancers, as Crowley laced a 1-2 pitch into the right-center gap for a RBI double. Norris was also able to score after an APU fielder committed an error on the play, giving the home team a 3-1 lead.

The Cougars showed no quit and were able to salvage the series by scoring the final four runs of the game.

While credited with the loss, Jeremy McDonald struck out nine batters through 4.2 innings. Crowley also pitched the final 1.2 innings of the game, allowing just one hit.

Next for the Lancers is a key trip to Point Loma, which holds a half-game edge over the Lancers for second place in the conference standings. The series begins with 3 p.m. games Thursday and Friday, ending with a noon Saturday doubleheader.