Monday, May 4
Oakland, Calif.
4 PM
California Baptist University
at
Holy Names
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Photo by: Andrew Shortall
Final Stretch in Pacwest Race
5/4/2015 10:31:00 AM | Baseball
OAKLAND, Calif. -- With the rest of the PacWest coming to a close, the conference championship race all comes down to these last four games at Laney College between California Baptist University and Holy Names.
CBU will need to win its series with the Hawks, which begins Monday at 4 p.m., continues with a noon Tuesday nine-and-seven-inning doubleheader and closes Wednesday at 7 p.m., to claim its fourth conference title in five years. It would be the Lancers' third championship in the PacWest in their four seasons as a member. Point Loma buoyed CBU's conference-title hopes by splitting a series at Dixie State this past weekend.
If the Lancers can win the PacWest, they will be a shoe-in to make the playoffs for the 11th time over the last 12 years and second year in a row as a NCAA member. CBU was in a great position according to the second West Region poll released Wednesday when it jumped to No. 2. It came as no surprise CBU jumped from fourth this week with a four-game sweep of Point Loma. The third West Region rankings will be expected for another Wednesday release this week.
There was a lot of movement last week, obviously with the Lancer sweep of the Sea Lions, who were ranked No. 3 in the region last week. Azusa Pacific had previously been tagged No. 2 but split a series with No. 6 Dixie State. While Cal Poly Pomona remained the top seed in the West, APU shifted to a third ranking and the CCAA's UC San Diego moved to No. 4 after winning three of four last week. The Red Storm moved up to fifth and PLNU slipped to No. 6, which represents the final playoff spot.
ADAM BALL
For the sixth week in a row, a Lancer received a PacWest weekly award when Adam Hofacket was named the conference Pitcher of the Week Monday. A new wrinkle came when Hofacket was named the NCBWA NCAA Division II West Region Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday, which was CBU's first regional weekly award of the year. The junior right-hander has been dominant of late, going through at least seven innings in his last seven starts, withstanding at least eight innings in each of his last four and turning in complete games twice over the past four weeks. Thursday was arguably the best of his career, allowing just three hits, one walk and struck out seven on 111 pitches in nine innings. He also retired the side in order six times and recorded the final 13 outs of the game in a row. With 88.1 innings pitched, Hofacket ranks first in the PacWest standings in that statistic. His 2.34 earned-run average ranks third in the conference, while he is fourth in strikeouts (79), fifth in complete games (three) and sixth in opponent batting average (.223). Over the past five weeks, Stephen Lohr, Antonio Chavarria and Nathan Antoun have been the PacWest Player of the Week, Brian Ruhm earned the conference Newcomer of the Week award and Tyson Miller was the Pitcher of the Week. Jeremy McDonald was named a Pitcher of the Week earlier, as well.
SERIES NOTES
It is CBU's youngest series in the PacWest, with the Lancers holding a 5-3 lead overall after winning the 2014 set 3-1 at Totman Stadium. Holy Names' turf Laney College infield presents a challenge for any team. The Lancers split the series there when they first met the Hawks in 2013 and HNU is 10-9 at home this season.
A LOOK AT THE HAWKS
Holy Names ranks fifth in the PacWest in ERA (4.08) and batting average (.269) and sits in the bottom third of the conference standings as a result. It is not to say the Hawks are not a formidable team, especially at home, evidenced by their 10-9 record at home this season and series victories over APU and Academy of Art. The Hawks have lost their last five games, including being swept by Fresno Pacific, but all four losses came by a combined five runs. Trent Carrier leads HNU's pitching stuff with a 2.77 ERA in 81.1 innings pitched across 10 starts. He boasts a 5-2 record, a complete game and also has two relief appearances, one of which earned him a save. Jayse Bannister gives the Hawks a strong left-handed starter, with a 3.87 ERA and two complete games in 12 starts and 74.1 innings. James Doyle is the team's most-used reliever with 18 appearances and a 3.12 ERA this season. Brady Navarro (7.16 ERA) has made 10 outings out of the bullpen and Raymond Caravalho (2.61 ERA) has made five. Offensively, Benjamin Gamba (.381) is the only Hawk hitting over .300, but Zach Verlaan (.293), Matthew Dufford (.287), Caleb Parker (.286) and Dustin Zeisler (.276) have all put up respectable numbers this year. Gamba is by far the biggest threat with 16 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 27 runs batted in. Verlaan has 11 doubles, 23 RBI and two homers this year. Dufford checks in with nine doubles, 22 RBI and two bombs.
PACWEST STANDINGS
As of 5/3/15
LAST YEAR
CBU relied on a dominant pitching staff that posted a 3.14 ERA and small-ball approach, with a lineup that hit .309 with just 22 home runs (tied for second least in program history) to help it go 39-15, 20-12 in the PacWest last year. It was a far cry from the Lancers' power surge in 2013 when it hit 65 homers, but just as effective. CBU went on to qualify for the NCAA Division II postseason in its first shot and reached the West Region semifinals after entering as the third seed. The Lancers had a flair for the dramatic a year ago, with three walk-off victories from three different players -- Zack Norris, Nathan Antoun and Andy Crowley, who all return this year.
ADCOCK AT A GLANCE
CBU has been a perennial power under coach Gary Adcock, who is in his 12th season coaching the team. He owns a winning percentage of .661 (435-222-1) and has the most wins in program history by 316 games. Ten of his 11 teams have qualified for the postseason, the lone exception being in 2009, with four reaching the national bracket and three winning national titles, including the NAIA World Series title in 2010 and NCCAA Championships in 2012 and 2013. The Lancers reached the NCAA Division II West Region semifinals last year. His teams have won five conference championships, including a four-year run from 2010 to 2013. Nineteen of his players have been All-American, 19 were named national scholar-athletes, 14 were selected in the MLB Draft and 12 of his athletes have been conference Player (six) or Pitcher of the Year (six), with 56 athletes earning all-conference selection.
MULTIMEDIA
Live-stat coverage will be provided by Holy Names for this week's series. Fans can also follow along on Twitter at twitter.com/cbulancers.
FULL GAME NOTES
CBU will need to win its series with the Hawks, which begins Monday at 4 p.m., continues with a noon Tuesday nine-and-seven-inning doubleheader and closes Wednesday at 7 p.m., to claim its fourth conference title in five years. It would be the Lancers' third championship in the PacWest in their four seasons as a member. Point Loma buoyed CBU's conference-title hopes by splitting a series at Dixie State this past weekend.
If the Lancers can win the PacWest, they will be a shoe-in to make the playoffs for the 11th time over the last 12 years and second year in a row as a NCAA member. CBU was in a great position according to the second West Region poll released Wednesday when it jumped to No. 2. It came as no surprise CBU jumped from fourth this week with a four-game sweep of Point Loma. The third West Region rankings will be expected for another Wednesday release this week.
There was a lot of movement last week, obviously with the Lancer sweep of the Sea Lions, who were ranked No. 3 in the region last week. Azusa Pacific had previously been tagged No. 2 but split a series with No. 6 Dixie State. While Cal Poly Pomona remained the top seed in the West, APU shifted to a third ranking and the CCAA's UC San Diego moved to No. 4 after winning three of four last week. The Red Storm moved up to fifth and PLNU slipped to No. 6, which represents the final playoff spot.
ADAM BALL
For the sixth week in a row, a Lancer received a PacWest weekly award when Adam Hofacket was named the conference Pitcher of the Week Monday. A new wrinkle came when Hofacket was named the NCBWA NCAA Division II West Region Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday, which was CBU's first regional weekly award of the year. The junior right-hander has been dominant of late, going through at least seven innings in his last seven starts, withstanding at least eight innings in each of his last four and turning in complete games twice over the past four weeks. Thursday was arguably the best of his career, allowing just three hits, one walk and struck out seven on 111 pitches in nine innings. He also retired the side in order six times and recorded the final 13 outs of the game in a row. With 88.1 innings pitched, Hofacket ranks first in the PacWest standings in that statistic. His 2.34 earned-run average ranks third in the conference, while he is fourth in strikeouts (79), fifth in complete games (three) and sixth in opponent batting average (.223). Over the past five weeks, Stephen Lohr, Antonio Chavarria and Nathan Antoun have been the PacWest Player of the Week, Brian Ruhm earned the conference Newcomer of the Week award and Tyson Miller was the Pitcher of the Week. Jeremy McDonald was named a Pitcher of the Week earlier, as well.
SERIES NOTES
It is CBU's youngest series in the PacWest, with the Lancers holding a 5-3 lead overall after winning the 2014 set 3-1 at Totman Stadium. Holy Names' turf Laney College infield presents a challenge for any team. The Lancers split the series there when they first met the Hawks in 2013 and HNU is 10-9 at home this season.
A LOOK AT THE HAWKS
Holy Names ranks fifth in the PacWest in ERA (4.08) and batting average (.269) and sits in the bottom third of the conference standings as a result. It is not to say the Hawks are not a formidable team, especially at home, evidenced by their 10-9 record at home this season and series victories over APU and Academy of Art. The Hawks have lost their last five games, including being swept by Fresno Pacific, but all four losses came by a combined five runs. Trent Carrier leads HNU's pitching stuff with a 2.77 ERA in 81.1 innings pitched across 10 starts. He boasts a 5-2 record, a complete game and also has two relief appearances, one of which earned him a save. Jayse Bannister gives the Hawks a strong left-handed starter, with a 3.87 ERA and two complete games in 12 starts and 74.1 innings. James Doyle is the team's most-used reliever with 18 appearances and a 3.12 ERA this season. Brady Navarro (7.16 ERA) has made 10 outings out of the bullpen and Raymond Caravalho (2.61 ERA) has made five. Offensively, Benjamin Gamba (.381) is the only Hawk hitting over .300, but Zach Verlaan (.293), Matthew Dufford (.287), Caleb Parker (.286) and Dustin Zeisler (.276) have all put up respectable numbers this year. Gamba is by far the biggest threat with 16 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 27 runs batted in. Verlaan has 11 doubles, 23 RBI and two homers this year. Dufford checks in with nine doubles, 22 RBI and two bombs.
PACWEST STANDINGS
As of 5/3/15
| School | Conference Record | Overall Record | Streak |
| Dixie State | 24-8 | 31-17 | L1 |
| California Baptist | 21-7 | 29-17 | W4 |
| Point Loma | 19-13 | 33-16 | W1 |
| Azusa Pacific | 19-13 | 32-18 | W3 |
| Fresno Pacific | 19-13 | 32-18 | L3 |
| Hawaii Pacific | 17-15 | 27-20 | W7 |
| Holy Names | 9-19 | 19-27 | L5 |
| Hawaii Hilo | 7-25 | 11-36 | W3 |
| Academy of Art | 5-27 | 8-38 | L3 |
LAST YEAR
CBU relied on a dominant pitching staff that posted a 3.14 ERA and small-ball approach, with a lineup that hit .309 with just 22 home runs (tied for second least in program history) to help it go 39-15, 20-12 in the PacWest last year. It was a far cry from the Lancers' power surge in 2013 when it hit 65 homers, but just as effective. CBU went on to qualify for the NCAA Division II postseason in its first shot and reached the West Region semifinals after entering as the third seed. The Lancers had a flair for the dramatic a year ago, with three walk-off victories from three different players -- Zack Norris, Nathan Antoun and Andy Crowley, who all return this year.
ADCOCK AT A GLANCE
CBU has been a perennial power under coach Gary Adcock, who is in his 12th season coaching the team. He owns a winning percentage of .661 (435-222-1) and has the most wins in program history by 316 games. Ten of his 11 teams have qualified for the postseason, the lone exception being in 2009, with four reaching the national bracket and three winning national titles, including the NAIA World Series title in 2010 and NCCAA Championships in 2012 and 2013. The Lancers reached the NCAA Division II West Region semifinals last year. His teams have won five conference championships, including a four-year run from 2010 to 2013. Nineteen of his players have been All-American, 19 were named national scholar-athletes, 14 were selected in the MLB Draft and 12 of his athletes have been conference Player (six) or Pitcher of the Year (six), with 56 athletes earning all-conference selection.
MULTIMEDIA
Live-stat coverage will be provided by Holy Names for this week's series. Fans can also follow along on Twitter at twitter.com/cbulancers.
FULL GAME NOTES
Players Mentioned
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