HILO, Hawaii – A three-run first inning put California Baptist University on track to a series-opening win over Hawaii Hilo and the 11^th-ranked Lancers never deviated course on Thursday in a 10-2 win.

A quality seven-inning start from Justin Montgomery and balanced lineup led the Lancers to the win, as they improved to 14-5, 7-2 in the PacWest. Hawaii Hilo drops to 7-10, 3-6. CBU and the Vulcans continue their series Friday at 9 p.m. PDT and then conclude with a 7 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.

"I felt good, I felt like I was pounding the zone early and that helped me a lot," Montgomery said. "Coach gave me the fastball and he kept giving it to me, I was ready to throw it, let them hit it and see what happens.

"I want to go out and help the team start out the series strong for them. I am big team guy and I want to do my best for them and give us a chance to win." 

Seven different players logged a hit for CBU, while three: John Glenn, Andrew Bash and Ryan Williams had two each. Bash continued his torrid pace by going 3-for-4 with two runs and a solo homer, while Williams was 2-for-4 with a double and run and Glenn went 2-for-5 with a run batted in, scored and a double, as well. Angelo Capolupo was also 1-for-3 with three RBIs.

A one-out double from Glenn and single from Bash started the first-inning attack for CBU. Glenn came around to score on a wild pitch and then a Tommy Bell single put both runners in scoring position. The Vulcans nearly got out of the inning with just one run of damage, but a throwing error from third base scored two more Lancers for an immediate 3-0 lead.

Montgomery threw a career-best seven innings on the mound. He retired UHH in order in the first and third innings and was a walk shy of a perfect game going into the fourth. The junior logged a career-best seven innings, giving up four hits, three walks and one unearned run.

"I was working ahead in the first few innings," Montgomery said. "It was a big building block for me closing out those last couple of innings. I think that will really help me in the future."

The Lancers went down scoreless in the second and third, but struck for four more runs in the fourth. Ryan Williams led off with a single, moved to second on a Ryan Mota grounder and then scored a hard hit up the middle from Rory Smith. A base knock from Harrison Spohn put Smith on third, and he scored on a sacrifice fly from Capolupo.

A hit by pitch put another runner on board. Glenn plated Spohn with a single to left field and Navigato scored on a throwing error from the fielder to cap the inning with a 7-0 CBU lead.

Hawaii Hilo finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth, with an unearned run, on two hits and an error. Montgomery limited the damage and stranded Vulcans at the corners when he induced a popup to first base.

Capolupo scored two more runners in the eighth with a single into center field after a walk to Mota and error on a hard-hit ball from Smith. Bash capped the scoring with a blast to left field to make it a 10-2 lead after the Vulcans scored their second run in the eighth.

True freshman Ryan Silva closed out the final two innings on the mound, striking out three while allowing one hit, run and walk.