Dominant Bullpen Inks CBU's 30th Win

Tuesday, May 7

Northridge, Calif.

3:00 PM

California Baptist University

30-18

CSUN

19-27

California Baptist

CSUN

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

Dominant Bullpen Inks CBU's 30th Win

5/7/2019 6:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. – A dominant bullpen and situational offense led California Baptist University to its 30^th win in its first NCAA Division I season in a 4-3 non-conference victory at CSUN on Tuesday afternoon.

Five Lancer pitchers allowed just two base runners over the final 5.2 innings, while a small-ball approach led CBU to four runs on six hits and three walks at Matador Field. CSUN managed just four hits and three walks, with all three runs coming on just one swing of the bat.

CBU improves to 30-18 on the year, while CSUN drops to 19-27 on the year. The Lancers wrap up their home season with a three-game Western Athletic Conference series versus Chicago State Friday through Sunday.

Friday's opener will feature a postgame fireworks show courtesy of Baker's Drive-Thru and Saturday's contest will have a CBU rally towel giveaway sponsored by Altura Credit Union. Senior Day will take place on the home finale Sunday.

Travis Booth, Seth Kaneen, Matt Amrhein, Mason McGarvey and Matt Mogollon combined to throw 5.2 shutout innings in relief for the Lancers, who also got some big contributions from its infield defense. Booth gave up a hit, a walk and struck out two over two innings. Kaneen, McGarvey and Mogollon all retired the one batter they faced, with Mogollon getting his seventh save in the process.

Amrhein earned the victory by shutting down the Matadors over 2.2 innings, striking out three and retiring all eight batters he faced from the sixth to the first out of the ninth.

Matt Amrhein throws another 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the eighth, with Nick Plaia ending the frame with a nifty play at third. It's 4-3 CBU going into the ninth.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/sYzo1AogSI
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 8, 2019

The Lancers took a 2-0 lead with two runs on three hits in the second inning. John Glenn (two hits) and Ryan Mota got the inning started with consecutive singles and then moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Rory Smith. Nick Plaia drove in Glenn with a grounder to shortstop, and then Harrison Spohn plated Mota with a double to right.

CSUN took the lead, 3-2, with a three-run homer in the bottom of the fourth. It spoiled a strong start from Angel Delgado, who allowed just one hit, a walk and struck out four over the first three innings.

Both teams were held scoreless over the next three innings. The Lancers took back the lead with two more runs in the top of the eighth. A pair of walks to Spohn and Luke Navigato and a perfect bunt from Billy Rockefeller loaded the bases with one out for CBU.

Chad Castillo battled back from a 2-2 count for a bases-loaded, full-count walk to tie the game.

A pair of walks to Harrison Spohn and Luke Navigato and this perfect bunt single from Billy Rockefeller has loaded the bases with one out for CBU in the top of the eighth inning.#LanceUp pic.twitter.com/ZikHfINIsG
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 8, 2019

Damon Keith then skied a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Lancers a 4-3 edge.

CBU takes the 4⃣➖3⃣ lead on a sacrifice fly from true freshman Damon Keith in the top of the eighth❗️ #LanceUp pic.twitter.com/M5glDGQnzK
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 8, 2019

CBU's 30 wins this year are tied for the fifth most by a team in its first season in NCAA Division I out of 40 teams who have made the move since 1998. Dallas Baptist holds the record for wins in its first D-I year at 44 back in 2004, while Florida Gulf Coast (38, 2008); North Florida (34, 2006) and Bryant (32, 2009) round out the top four. Grand Canyon was the last team to win 30 games in its first D-I season back in 2014.