Lancers Come Through In a Pinch

Saturday, March 4

Riverside, Calif.

12:00 PM

California Baptist University

12-6, 3-1

Fresno Pacific

3-8, 1-3

Fresno Pacific

CBU

Photo by: Conner Schuh

Lancers Come Through In a Pinch

3/4/2017 7:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – With a series victory on the line in the first week of the PacWest season, California Baptist University needed to rally late down by one to Fresno Pacific in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Three key pinch-hit at-bats led the 25^th-ranked Lancers to a three-run outburst in their final at-bats and delivered a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over the Sunbirds on Saturday at Totman Stadium. CBU improves to 12-6, 3-1 in conference and FPU drops to 3-8, 1-3.

"Anytime you can win a series you'll take that," Coach Gary Adcock said. "We are excited about it and trying to take it all as a single moment and move on to the next one."

Fresno Pacific took a 4-3 lead when it scored a run in the top of the eighth. In need of a late rally, the Lancers received a big shot in the arm when Bryce Macy worked his way into a full count before he laced a leadoff double into right field.

"The pressure really intensifies on the pitcher after that leadoff double," Adcock said.

Next, DJ Porter drew a 3-2 walk to put two on with no outs and prompt Adcock to call on Tanner Amaral for the true freshman's collegiate debut at the plate in a pinch. Amaral proved wise beyond his years, showing bunt before pulling back, showing a great eye to create a 3-0 count and eventual walk to load the bases with no outs.

"I thought Tanner Amaral really slowed the game down on the bunt," Adcock said. "I thought he was very cool, calm and collected in his first collegiate at-bat. He took some borderline pitches and worked the count."

In another pinch-hit situation, Kyle Oyama found himself in an 0-2 count before sending a single into center field to score Macy and tie the game at 4-4.

Brian Ruhm was the last Lancer to be called upon to pinch hit in his series debut, and the redshirt senior made the most of the opportunity, lining a 3-1 pitch into right field to score two more runs.

"He was an everyday player for us for a long time, and he got a swing for us there when we needed it," Adcock said.

Fresno Pacific brought the winning run to the plate and put the tying run on second in the top of the ninth inning, but Seth Kaneen closed out the last two innings to get the win.

"I am proud of their resolve, their resiliency and the way they compete and the way they comeback," Adcock said. "We have high expectations in the program and for what we do, and we understand that. We are going to continue to work and grind and try to play better in all the facets."

Macy went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two runs batted in and another scored in the game. Luke Navigato, Tyler Johnson, Porter, John Glenn and Zack Norris also logged hits in the contest.

Fresno Pacific scored first for a 1-0 lead, with two walks and a sacrifice fly, in the in the top of the first inning. It was a short-lived lead, as Macy bashed a two-RBI double, scoring Navigato (walk) and Johnson (single) in the bottom half of the frame to give CBU a 2-1 edge.

In what was a pitcher's duel most of the day, the Lancers scratched out a two-run cushion, 3-1, with two singles in the bottom of the fifth. Norris started the inning with a one-out, 0-2 single through the right side. The senior took second on a slow grounder and then came all the way home, thanks to some smart base running, when Navigato singled into right field.

"We are a very resilient group, it's always a group effort with us," starting pitcher Logan Rinehart said.

Rinehart turned in a career start for CBU on the mound. The true freshman retired the side in order from the second through the fifth inning and took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before he finished off the seventh inning. It was a quality start, as he allowed just two hits, three walks and three runs on 96 pitches.

"I totally credit Coach's preparation, he prepares us like no other," Rinehart said of Adcock. "We go out there and trust it. We understand what he does with us on and off the field will help us success in life and on the field."

CBU continues a 12-game homestand in a PacWest series with Hawaii Pacific next week. The Sharks and Lancers play Thursday and Friday at 6 p.m. and then wrap up with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.