Going To the Stowell

Saturday, February 6

Riverside, Calif.

12:00 PM

California Baptist University

2-1

Cal State L.A.

1-2

Cal State LA

California Baptist

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

2/6/2016 5:53:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Before the season began, California Baptist University Coach Gary Adcock predicted Dylan Stowell would surprise some people.

Well, the word is out after the pitcher's first appearance of 2016. Stowell threw seven shutout innings to lead the Lancers to a 2-0 victory over Cal State Los Angeles at Totman Stadium Saturday afternoon, which gave CBU the series win and a 2-1 record to start the year.

"He dominated, he threw like a No. 1 today," shortstop Andrew Montoya said of Stowell.

After averaging six innings worth of work the last two seasons, Stowell is already above his average through one start in 2016. The junior allowed just five base runners on four hits and a walk, while striking out five, through his seven innings.

"It was definitely special, it's something that's been in the works for a while and it was nice for it to finally be here," Stowell said. "Everything clicked, I feel good about it and I feel good about the win.

"I have embraced [the new role], I kind of flushed the last two years and worked hard over summer, it was nice to have all the preparation show on the field."

Adcock stuck with his hot hand when the Golden Eagles put two runners on with one out in the top of the seventh. Stowell rewarded his coach's confidence in him, inducing a grounder to second base for the second out and then a line out to right field to end the threat and keep CBU up 1-0.

"I just wanted to locate and throw to the spot, don't try to overthrow or do too much," Stowell said. "The defense is going to work, they make plays all the time. I knew Coach was going to call a good pitch whatever it was."

With both offenses struggling to get going, the Lancers got on the board with some small ball in the bottom of the sixth. Zack Norris got on to start the inning, despite striking out, as a dropped third strike sent him off flying to first and the catcher's throw bounced off his back to put him on base.

Andrew Montoya laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Norris up to second, and a wild pitch put him on third. Antonio Chavarria brought in the run with a sacrifice fly to right field, and an off-the-mark throw home allowed Norris to score.

"We just try to put our at-bats together and execute as best we can," Montoya said. "We try to get the leadoff guy on and then string a couple of hits together."

Travis Booth threw two shutout innings for the Lancers to earn the six-out save. The sophomore had to overcome an error to lead off the top of the eighth, but he bounced back to retire three of the next four to escape unscathed.

In need of some insurance, Norris started a two-out rally with a single into left field. Montoya capped it with a smoked shot into the right-center gap, scoring Norris all the way from first to cap the scoring.

"I was just trying to put a good swing on the ball and hopefully get a hit and get the next guy up," Montoya said. "I wasn't trying to do too much, but thankfully I got a good swing on it.

"It felt pretty good [getting solid contact]. It's hard to get the first one but it feels good to get it out of the way."

Cal State L.A. put its first two runners on in the top of the ninth, but Booth regrouped and got the next three outs to end the game.

CBU resumes play next week with an away-home-away series with another CCAA opponent, Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros host the opener and finale Thursday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at noon. The Lancers welcome CSUDH to Totman Friday at 6 p.m.