Grinding Its Way to Victory

Friday, February 12

Riverside, Calif.

6:00 PM

California Baptist University

4-1

Cal State Dominguez Hills

3-3

CS Dominguez Hills

California Baptist

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

Grinding Its Way to Victory

2/12/2016 11:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – It was not the prettiest win, or even the most glamorous walk-off, but California Baptist University claimed a series win over Cal State Dominguez Hills with a 6-5, 13-inning and nearly four-hour result at Totman Stadium Friday night.

Unable to choose just one player, the Lancers' bullpen was the highlight of the game. CBU did not give up an earned run on the night, with the bullpen throwing nine innings of two-hit ball with no runs allowed. It brought CBU's record to 4-1 this season, while the Toros slide to 3-3 with the series finale playing out in Carson, Calif., Saturday at noon.

It gave the Lancers' offense an opportunity to overcome a 5-0 deficit in the second inning, finally coming to fruition in the bottom of the 13th.Jake Gallaway got things started when he flared a pitch into foul territory in right field, but the sky-high ball drifted back and landed just in fair territory, which was good for a triple for a sprinting Gallaway.

"I didn't square it up like I wanted," Gallaway said. "It started out fair, but I saw it starting to carry over and I just told myself I was giving to run as hard as I could and see what happened."

With one out and a runner at third, Brad Rinehart came to the plate for the Lancers. A defensive substitution at first base in the top of the 10^th inning, it was just the third at-bat in three years for Rinehart.

Coach Gary Adcock signaled for a suicide-squeeze bunt, but Rinehart's first two attempts were fouled back. Adcock made the call again and Rinehart delivered with a perfectly-paced bunt down the third-base line.

The Toros pitcher made a desperation attempt to flip the ball home, but there was no chance, as Gallaway scored easily for the walk-off win.

"It was a crazy at-bat, I just knew I had to get a job done," Rinehart said. "Coach trusted me to get it down. He told me to trust in the preparation, and that's what I did with two strikes.

"It's a very special moment for me, but I am far happier with a good team win, more than an individual glory for me."

Travis Booth picked up the win for the Lancers by throwing 2.2 innings where he struck out batters and allowed just three base runners on walks. Stephen Carajabal and Justin Montgomery added to the special night from the Lancers' bullpen, with neither allowing a hit or run.

The star on the mound of the night was Patrick Gonzales. The senior right-hander threw 4.2 innings where he allowed just two hits and struck out three. He has made a team-high three appearances with Booth and has yet to allow a run in 7.2 innings.

Offensively, the Lancers chipped away inning-by-inning. Andrew Montoya (2-for-6) helped extend the game in the bottom of the ninth. CBU entered the frame down 5-4, but a one-pitch double into the right-center gap gave the home team hope.

A slow bouncer to first from Derek Escobar moved Montoya to third and a wild pitch brought him home to tie things and force extras.

Bryce Macy and Mark Sanchez each had three hits in the game, with Macy adding a run batted in and run scored in four at-bats. Sanchez had two RBIs and a run in six trips to the plate.

Sanchez got the Lancers on the board with a leadoff homer in the second. Macy came up big with a two-out RBI single through the right side in the third. Sanchez plated the third CBU run in the fourth inning with a two-out single into left field. Another Sanchez single in the seventh went into right field and caused a CSUDH error, giving the Lancers their fourth run of the night.