Box Score KANEOHE, Hawaii – Two-out rallies in the eighth and ninth innings were not enough for California Baptist University against Hawaii Pacific Thursday night at Hans L'Orange Park. The Lancers were blocked from starting the PacWest season with four-straight series victories in a 2-1 loss to the Sharks.
With two outs, CBU loaded the bases in the eighth and put two runners in scoring position again in the ninth, but came away with just one run over both frames. The 10th-ranked Lancers out hit HPU 6-3, with six different players getting hits for them.
CBU, which share the No. 1 ranking in the NCBWA West Region poll, retains its first-place standing in the conference with a 23-7, 13-3 in conference record. Hawaii Pacific moves to 17-9, 9-7 on the year. Dixie State (20-6, 8-4) and Point Loma (16-6, 5-3) stand in second and third place in the conference.
There was danger of the Lancers being shutout, as their first two batters in the ninth inning were retired. Ryan Williams came on and drew a pinch-hit walk before Jake Gallaway put on the pressure with an opposite-field double into right. With runners on second and third, Kyle Oyama – a pinch runner in the eighth who remained in the game at second base – chopped a ball to first base and hustled down the line for an infield single.
Williams scored and Gallaway moved to third on the play. CBU just missed out on a game-changing hit for the second inning in a row, though, as a strikeout ended the game.
The Lancers loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the eighth on a pinch-hit single from John Taurinsky, a Mark Sanchez walk and a base knock from Stephen Lohr. A grounder to first after all that ended the threat.
CBU returns home to the friendly confines of Totman Stadium for a 12-game homestand that starts with Academy of Art on April 1st, with a 4 p.m. doubleheader.
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