CBU Comes Up Clutch

Thursday, April 20

Riverside, Calif.

6:00 PM

California Baptist University

29-15, 20-10

Hawaii Hilo

8-22, 8-20

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Hawai'i Hilo	0	1	0	2	0	0	1	0	0	4	8	1
CBU	3	0	0	2	0	4	0	0	X	9	10	2

Photo by: Conner Schuh

4/20/2017 10:09:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – When it needed it most, California Baptist University came up with the big outs to secure a 9-4 win over Hawai'i Hilo in game two of the PacWest series Thursday at Totman Stadium.

Tommy Bell collected three hits, two runs batted in and two runs for the Lancers a day before his Senior Night. CBU improved to a 29-15 overall record, 20-10 in the PacWest, and Hawai'i Hilo is 8-22, 8-20 going into Friday's series finale doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

"Guys are buying into the approach in practice and putting good swings on the ball," said Bell, who missed some time with an injury this season. "It feels good being back, I am just getting my timing back and feeling better at the plate."

The Lancers' Senior Day ceremony will be held before the second game Friday, which will start about a half hour after the conclusion of the day's opener.

Matt Amrhein pitched the final three innings for the nine-out save for CBU on Thursday, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out two over from the seventh through the ninth. The Vulcans put 16 runners in scoring position and loaded the bases on three occasions, but the Lancers got the outs when it was most needed.

CBU took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI double from Bryce Macy and two-run single from Ryan Williams. UHH tied the game at 3-3, with a run in the second and two more in the fourth, but Logan Rinehart stopped the bleeding. The Vulcans loaded the bases in the inning, but Rinehart came up with a big strikeout to keep the game tied.

A one-out single from Bell gave the Lancers back the momentum in the bottom of the fourth. Nick Plaia and Andrew Bash followed it up with consecutive two-out, RBI singles to give CBU a 5-3 cushion.

"That was really important," Bell said. "It's always really important to answer back, especially after they tie the game."

UHH threatened to tie the game again, or even take the lead, when it loaded the bases with one out in the sixth. Seth Kaneen came on in relief and struck out consecutive batters to hold the Vulcans scoreless in the inning.

CBU scored its final four runs in the bottom half of the sixth. John Glenn started things off with a leadoff single and Bell drove him home with a double to center. DJ Porter cleared the bases with a first-pitch, two-run homer before a sacrifice fly from Luke Navigato scored Bash (walk), who had moved to third on a Brian Ruhm single.

Once again in the seventh, UHH loaded the bases – this time with no outs. Amrhein took over in relief and immediately got a 5-4-3, double-play grounder to give up one run but alleviate most of the pressure on the mound. The true freshman struck out the final batter to keep the score at 9-4.

"Those big outs really helped keep momentum on our side, and we took it into our offense and put some runs up," Bash said. "We are starting to put it together. We are coming through in those key moments."