RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Arguably the most dominant performance at the plate in team history from
Ryan Mota led California Baptist University to a 10-3 win over Pacific on Saturday night, as the Lancers secured the series victory.
Mota went 4-for-4 at the plate with three home runs and seven runs batted in to become the first Lancer in the modern era (2002-19) to record three homers and seven RBIs in a game. It is the first time in the NCAA era (2014-19) either of those have been accomplished in a single game.
Not to be overshadowed,
Chris Burica threw the first complete game in the Division I era for CBU. He allowed just six hits and one earned run, while striking out four over all nine innings.
CBU improves to 12-3 this season, while Pacific drops to 9-4. The teams will conclude their series with an 11 a.m. game Sunday at Totman Stadium.
A home run to lead off the bottom of the second inning from Mota gave CBU a 1-0 lead. The Lancers then had to play from behind for the first time this week when the Tigers scored three runs (two unearned) in the third.
Down 3-1, CBU tied the game in the fourth inning on back-to-back solo homers from Mota and
John Glenn. It was the first time since April 2, 2016 that the Lancers hit consecutive long balls.
Mota just missed another homer in the fifth when he doubled to dead center to score two
Angelo Capolupo (hit by pitch) and
Luke Navigato (single). An error and infield single from
Billy Rockefeller gave CBU a 7-3 lead going into the sixth.
Like it or not, the Tigers were forced to pitch to Mota in the sixth when he came to the plate with
Harrison Spohn (single) and Navigato (single) at the corners with one out. Mota blasted his third home run of the game to left field to cap the scoring at 10-3.
Mota received a standing ovation in the eighth inning when Pacific wisely pitched around him, and he was substituted for a pinch runner.
