FRESNO, Calif. – A few hours after it debuted as No. 1 in the NCAA Division II West Region rankings, California Baptist University backed up the top nod to start a road series at Fresno Pacific Wednesday night.
 
It was a similar recipe for success for the Lancers, as they've enjoyed all season, in a 3-1 road win at the FPU Diamond. Another dominant start from Tyson Miller and some power hitting from Antonio Chavarria proved the difference in the victory. CBU, which is ranked sixth in Division II overall, improves to 34-9, 24-5 in the PacWest with the win, and the Sunbirds slip further below .500 (20-22, 15-13).

With the rest of the conference stagnant until Friday, the Lancers inch closer to a PacWest championship with just seven games to play, including a doubleheader Thursday at 3 p.m. at Fresno Pacific. CBU controls its own destiny, needing four wins over its final seven to clinch it outright.

"Our goal is always to win the first game, that way we can come out and win the series in day two," Chavarria said. "This is huge momentum for us, our focus is just one pitch, one inning, one moment at a time."

Overall, Miller allowed just one run and eight base runners (six hits, two walks) through as many innings. He also struck out eight batters in the win. Brody Robinson got his fifth save of the season, with three strikeouts in his one inning of work.
 
Stephen Lohr went 3-for-4 at the plate for the Lancers, while Chavarria was 2-for-3 with two runs batted in and two runs scored. A.J. David, Andrew Montoya and Kyle Oyama also had base hits in the game.
 
CBU's offense got Miller a lead in the top of the fourth, which was led off with a single from Lohr. Chavarria then jumped all over a first-pitch fastball and crushed a no-doubter into right field for a 2-0 Lancer lead.
 
"I knew I was going to get a fastball, and he missed in, so I put a good swing on it and I knew it was gone," Chavarria said. 

After Miller left runners on board from the first to the third innings, Fresno Pacific cut the deficit in half, 2-1, on singles from McKay France and Leo Carrillo in the bottom of the fourth.

CBU extended its lead back to two runs, 3-1, in the sixth. Lohr and Chavarria started the rally with consecutive singles, and a walk to Andrew Montoya loaded the bases with one out. Bryce Macy came on as a pinch hitter and drew the RBI walk.
 
Just like last week, Miller got better as the game went along Wednesday. He retired the side in order from the fifth through the eighth innings, and also struck out five of his batters in that span.

"Tyson did a phenomenal job again, he has been great for us down the stretch," Chavarria said. "As the game went on, his fastball control was great. He did his job again, got ahead and put them away. That was huge for us."
 
Robinson came on in the bottom of the ninth for the save. Despite striking out the first batter of the frame, drama arose as a wild pitch allowed the runner to reach first safely. Unfazed, the Lancers closer bounced right back. He got a 2-2 strikeout on a curveball that broke into the zone to a left-handed batter and a grounder to first before ending the game on another strikeout.
 
"Brody has been good for us this whole season," Chavarria said, "when he comes in we know he's going to get the job done."