Saturday, April 25
San Diego, Calif.
12 PM
California Baptist University
3
at
2
Point Loma
Photo by: Leigh Ann Lindsey
How Sweep It Is
4/25/2015 5:33:00 PM | Baseball
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Most players would be content being a five-tool player, but Andy Crowley has brought a rare sixth element to his game for California Baptist University.
All six sections to his skill set proved crucial in gaining the Lancers' doubleheader and series sweep of Point Loma on Saturday. Crowley, the center fielder/closer for CBU, notched the save on the mound and the game-winning hit in a 3-2 victory in top of the ninth of the first game. The Lancers then exploded for 12 hits and three home runs in a 5-0 victory in the finale to secure the sweep.
Winners of seven of its last eight, CBU is now just one game back of Dixie State for the PacWest title with a 29-17, 21-7 in conference record. The Red Storm is 29-15, 22-6 and finishes the season at home against Point Loma (31-14, 17-11). The Lancers have guaranteed themselves a top-two spot in the PacWest and conclude the regular season at Holy Names next week.
The sweep of the Sea Lions will also likely move CBU up in the NCAA Division II West Region rankings. PLNU was ranked third in the region coming into the week, while the Lancers were the No. 4 team. Azusa Pacific was ranked second in the West, with Cal Poly Pomona receiving the top position.
It took seven innings for CBU to get on the board in the early game, as it scored its first two runs that frame. John Taurinsky started it off with a one-out single up the middle, and was replaced with pinch-runner Zack Norris. Nathan Antoun singled right after to move Norris into scoring position.
In the big situation, CBU went to pinch-hitter Tyler Johnson. The clutch performer delivered once again, bouncing a ball over second base and into center field, scoring Norris. A fielding error in the outfield allowed Antoun to score as well.
With the first game of the day tied at 2-2 going into the ninth inning, the Lancers were forced to come up in the clutch again, with the first two games of the series being decided by a total of three runs.
Luke Navigato started the inning with a four-pitch walk, but the Sea Lions look to evade danger by retiring the next two batters. Taylor Wetzel kept the inning alive with a single through the 3-4 hole. Ryan Williams was brought on as a pinch hitter and quickly worked a four-pitch walk to load the bases.
It all came down to Crowley, and he jumped on the first pitch he saw, blooping it into right field to score Navigato easily.
Starting pitcher Tyson Miller remained on the mound in the bottom of the ninth, recording the first out on a deep fly to right field. With a leftie due up, Crowley was brought on to close things out for the second game in a row. His first batter singled aboard, but he got fly outs to left and center to end the game with no damage done.
The game was another example of how pitching dominated the series with the Sea Lions. Despite Point Loma getting on the board in the bottom of the third to take its first lead of the week, it was the only blemish on Miller's day. He went 8.1 innings in his start, allowing six base runners (four hits, two walks) and striking out seven. PLNU scored once more on Miller in the eighth, but it was unearned, to tie the game at 2-2.
On the day, Antonio Chavarria was 5-for-6 at the plate after going 4-for-4 in the finale. Crowley was 3-for-6 Saturday after going 2-for-5 in the opener. Johnson had another pinch-hit at-bat in the second game and delivered again, going 2-for-2 with two runs batted in in all. Taurinsky and Nathan Antoun both batted 2-for-6 overall. A.J. David was 2-for-4 in the opener.
In the final game of the day, CBU took an early 2-0 lead on solo home runs from Taurinsky and Chavarria in the third and fourth innings, respectively. Williams and Chavarria led off the sixth with consecutive singles, putting runners at the corners with no outs. Stephen Lohr laid down a squeeze bunt to score Williams and increase the lead to 3-0.
It appeared the seventh inning would come and go, with the first two batters being retired. Alec Morabito added CBU's third solo home run on a 1-0 pitch to increase the advantage to 4-0. Crowley kept the action going with two outs, doubling to left field and Johnson brought him home with another single through the infield.
Jeremy McDonald continued the dominant theme on the mound by recording the Lancers' second shutout of the week. He threw all seven innings in the night cap, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out eight.
All six sections to his skill set proved crucial in gaining the Lancers' doubleheader and series sweep of Point Loma on Saturday. Crowley, the center fielder/closer for CBU, notched the save on the mound and the game-winning hit in a 3-2 victory in top of the ninth of the first game. The Lancers then exploded for 12 hits and three home runs in a 5-0 victory in the finale to secure the sweep.
Winners of seven of its last eight, CBU is now just one game back of Dixie State for the PacWest title with a 29-17, 21-7 in conference record. The Red Storm is 29-15, 22-6 and finishes the season at home against Point Loma (31-14, 17-11). The Lancers have guaranteed themselves a top-two spot in the PacWest and conclude the regular season at Holy Names next week.
The sweep of the Sea Lions will also likely move CBU up in the NCAA Division II West Region rankings. PLNU was ranked third in the region coming into the week, while the Lancers were the No. 4 team. Azusa Pacific was ranked second in the West, with Cal Poly Pomona receiving the top position.
It took seven innings for CBU to get on the board in the early game, as it scored its first two runs that frame. John Taurinsky started it off with a one-out single up the middle, and was replaced with pinch-runner Zack Norris. Nathan Antoun singled right after to move Norris into scoring position.
In the big situation, CBU went to pinch-hitter Tyler Johnson. The clutch performer delivered once again, bouncing a ball over second base and into center field, scoring Norris. A fielding error in the outfield allowed Antoun to score as well.
With the first game of the day tied at 2-2 going into the ninth inning, the Lancers were forced to come up in the clutch again, with the first two games of the series being decided by a total of three runs.
Luke Navigato started the inning with a four-pitch walk, but the Sea Lions look to evade danger by retiring the next two batters. Taylor Wetzel kept the inning alive with a single through the 3-4 hole. Ryan Williams was brought on as a pinch hitter and quickly worked a four-pitch walk to load the bases.
It all came down to Crowley, and he jumped on the first pitch he saw, blooping it into right field to score Navigato easily.
Starting pitcher Tyson Miller remained on the mound in the bottom of the ninth, recording the first out on a deep fly to right field. With a leftie due up, Crowley was brought on to close things out for the second game in a row. His first batter singled aboard, but he got fly outs to left and center to end the game with no damage done.
The game was another example of how pitching dominated the series with the Sea Lions. Despite Point Loma getting on the board in the bottom of the third to take its first lead of the week, it was the only blemish on Miller's day. He went 8.1 innings in his start, allowing six base runners (four hits, two walks) and striking out seven. PLNU scored once more on Miller in the eighth, but it was unearned, to tie the game at 2-2.
On the day, Antonio Chavarria was 5-for-6 at the plate after going 4-for-4 in the finale. Crowley was 3-for-6 Saturday after going 2-for-5 in the opener. Johnson had another pinch-hit at-bat in the second game and delivered again, going 2-for-2 with two runs batted in in all. Taurinsky and Nathan Antoun both batted 2-for-6 overall. A.J. David was 2-for-4 in the opener.
In the final game of the day, CBU took an early 2-0 lead on solo home runs from Taurinsky and Chavarria in the third and fourth innings, respectively. Williams and Chavarria led off the sixth with consecutive singles, putting runners at the corners with no outs. Stephen Lohr laid down a squeeze bunt to score Williams and increase the lead to 3-0.
It appeared the seventh inning would come and go, with the first two batters being retired. Alec Morabito added CBU's third solo home run on a 1-0 pitch to increase the advantage to 4-0. Crowley kept the action going with two outs, doubling to left field and Johnson brought him home with another single through the infield.
Jeremy McDonald continued the dominant theme on the mound by recording the Lancers' second shutout of the week. He threw all seven innings in the night cap, allowing just two hits and one walk while striking out eight.
Players Mentioned
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