All About the Shutouts

Thursday, March 17

Hilo, Hawaii

3:00 PM

California Baptist University

19-5, 9-1

Hawaii Hilo

3-11, 2-10

California Baptist

UH Hilo

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

3/17/2016 8:43:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

HILO, Hawaii – After offense led the way in game one, pitching took over for California Baptist University in a doubleheader with Hawaii Hilo at Wong Stadium Thursday.

Shutouts from starting pitchers Dylan Stowell and Jeremy McDonald guided the 12^th-ranked Lancers to 1-0 and 2-0 victories. CBU has now won eight-straight games and 14 of its last 15, as it now sports a 20-5, 10-1 PacWest record. The Lancers are now in position to sweep their fourth series of the year, and second in a row. The Vulcans drop to 3-12, 2-11 in conference.

Tyler Johnson got his first two starts of the year for the Lancers, and made the most of his opportunities. He batted 6-for-8 with a run scored and batted in, while also stealing a base over both games Thursday. In the day's finale, he went 4-for-4 and scored one of the two runs in the contest. A.J. David (3-for-6) and Mark Sanchez (2-for-6, RBI) were the only other Lancers with multiple hits on the day.

On a slow offensive day, Stowell and McDonald took the burden on themselves to be next to perfect. They were just that for CBU.

In game one, Hawaii Hilo managed just five hits and a walk off Stowell, who struck out six. He stranded Vulcans in scoring position in the first, third and seventh innings. He retired the side in order in the second, fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth frames.

McDonald allowed just six base runners (four hits, two walks), as well, in the finale. He struck out nine over seven innings, and retired the side in order in the fifth through seventh frames, including the final three batters he faced.

CBU had six hits in the opener, with Johnson putting in a 2-for-4 game and David going 2-for-3. The Lancers got the lone run of the game on the board in the top of the third. Alec Morabito doubled into the left-center field gap with one out, and Johnson brought him home with a single through the right side.

While UHH threatened in a handful of innings, Stowell's biggest test came in the seventh after he gave up a leadoff double. A sacrifice bunt put the runner at third with one out. Hawaii Hilo attempted a suicide-squeeze bunt, but the batter couldn't get a piece of the ball, which put the runner in no-man's land and created a rundown. Stowell covered home plate and took a throw from third, but the ball was popped loose when the runner ran into him. The runner was called out for interference on the collision, however, which led to an ejection of the Vulcan. It kept the game scoreless and the Lancers on track for the shutout win.

In game two, CBU got both runs in the first inning. Johnson led off the game with a single through the right side, and moved up to second on a grounder. An error at shortstop prolonged the first inning and brought Johnson home. David singled and a fielder's choice loaded the bases with two outs. Sanchez capped the scoring with an infield single to second base for a 2-0 Lancer lead.

Hawaii Hilo's best chance at scoring came in the bottom of the first. A leadoff single, two wild pitches and a walk gave the Vulcans runners at the corners with two outs. McDonald forced a lineout to first, however, to end the threat. Double plays squashed any potential UHH rallies in the second and fourth innings, as well.