Staying on Top

Saturday, April 2

Riverside, Calif.

12:00 PM

California Baptist University

26-7, 16-3

Academy of Art

9-23, 4-14

Academy of Art

California Baptist

Photo by: Jacob Gonzalez

4/2/2016 6:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – There is no opportunity to let up in the race for the PacWest championship so California Baptist University kept its pedal to the medal in a series-concluding doubleheader with Academy of Art Saturday.

CBU extended its home-run streak at home to six games, with the seventh-ranked Lancers hitting eight bombs in the series overall, and winning the final two games on scores of 8-0 and 11-2 at Totman Stadium. It keeps CBU (27-7, 17-3 in conference) in first place in the PacWest by a game over Dixie State (16-4, 28-6). ART U drops to 9-22 on the year, 4-15 in conference.

"We know, we're talking about it," Outfielder Brian Ruhm said. "Dixie State is a good team and they're not going away. We can't afford to let games slip away. We have to stay on our toes and play well everyday if we want a shot at that PacWest title."

While the offense stole the spotlight, Dylan Stowell turned in a strong start in game one to guide the Lancers to their second-straight shutout. He allowed just seven base runners (five hits, two walks) in seven innings, while striking out seven. Patrick Gonzales (one hit, one strikeout, one inning) and Vini Haro (0.2 innings, no base runners) contributed to the shutout, as well.

On the day, Andrew Montoya (5-for-8) and Antonio Chavarria (4-for-7) led the offense. Montoya had three runs batted in, three runs and a triple, Chavarria had two extra-base hits (home run, double), two RBIs and two runs. Tyler Johnson (3-for-4), A.J. David (3-for-6, three RBIs) and Ryan Williams (3-for-7, homer) all had three hits.

"The offense slowed down a little bit in Hawaii — it's a tough place to hit — but we are slowing [our approach] down here," Ruhm said. "We've figured it out a little bit since our last series and are getting it on the barrel."

A five-inning third gave Stowell all the run support he would need in the opener. An error put the leadoff runner on third and Montoya scored him with a single into center field. Williams and Mark Sanchez then laid down consecutive bunt singles to load the bases with no outs. Stephen Lohr, Chavarria and Taylor Wetzel scored a run each with RBI singles, while David brought in one more on a sacrifice fly in the inning.

Williams made it a 6-0 game with a sacrifice RBI bunt in the sixth, set up on a Gallaway walk and Montoya single. CBU saved its best for last, as David and Chavarria led off the seventh with back-to-back solo homers to cap the scoring.

Chavarria (3-for-4), Montoya (2-for-4) and Lohr (2-for-4) all had multiple hits in the opener.

Good vibrations carried over into game two, with Montoya (3-for-4), Johnson (2-for-3), Brian Ruhm (2-for-3), David (2-for-3) and Williams (2-for-4) each putting up at least two hits in the game.

"We are focusing on staying on the barrel and staying in the middle of the field," Ruhm said. "We have a lot of power guys like Lohr, David and Antonio and if we miss, we want to make it a good miss."

CBU also scored three runs in the first, as Johnson, Ruhm and David started the bottom of the inning with three-straight singles. David's hit drove in two and a sacrifice fly from Sanchez ended the three-run first.

Montoya led off the second with a single, moved to third on a wild pitch and error, before scoring on a Johnson grounder. Williams made it a 5-0 game with a solo homer in the bottom of the third.

Academy of Art would counter with runs in the fourth and sixth innings, but the Lancers stayed on the attack and scored in every inning, including two runs in the fourth through sixth frames.

This 12-game homestand, which includes a game at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., on April 20^th at 7:05 p.m., continues for the Lancers next week against Concordia. That PacWest series begins with 6 p.m. games Thursday and Friday, concluding Saturday with a noon doubleheader.

"It's definitely an advantage [being at home], we have a .700 winning percentage at home," Ruhm said. "With the race so close right now, it's good to be at home and to get things rolling into the playoffs hopefully."