Pitchers Duel in Reno

Friday, March 6

Reno, Nev.

3:00 PM

California Baptist University

6-6

Nevada

1-10

Cal Baptist

Nevada

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

3/6/2020 8:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

RENO – Underclassmen Mason McGarvey and Christian Culpepper led California Baptist University in a pitchers' duel in game two of its series at Nevada.

McGarvey and Culpepper combined to throw the first 6.2 innings in which they allowed just one earned run. The Lancers outhit the Wolf Pack 8-6 but were one big hit away from coming away with the win in a 2-1 loss to UNR. The series continue at Don Weir Field Saturday at 1 p.m.

CBU battled back from a 2-0 deficit but had the tying run thrown out at home to end the top of the eighth inning. McGarvey, Culpepper and Matt Amrhein teamed up to hold Nevada to just two runs (one earned) and five hits. Kyle Oyama led the offense by going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Mason McGarvey throws a career-long 4.1 innings in his second-ever start, but Nevada comes away with the one-run win. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/OeuC5w5r87
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 7, 2020

A pair of singles and a walk put the Pack up 1-0 in the bottom of the third. McGarvey limited the damage by retiring the leadoff batter and then getting consecutive grounders to strand two runners. An error and a double led to Nevada's second and final run in the fifth.

The Lancers fought to get back in the game, but ultimately were one hit away from tying the game or taking the lead on several occasions. CBU left a total of nine runners on base, with at least one in seven of nine innings.

CBU scored in the seventh inning with the help of three free passes. David Martin started the threat with a pinch-hit walk, which brought on pinch-runner Grady Tuohy. Kyle Oyama and Chad Castillo were both hit by pitches to load the bases with one out. Harrison Spohn drove in Tuohy with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Shaping up to be another tight finish in Reno, as it's a one-run game going into the bottom of the seventh.

Three free passes and a sacrifice fly from Harrison Spohn got CBU on the board in the top half.#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/QxmB9oXnkN
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 7, 2020

The Lancers looked to tie the game in the eighth inning after a leadoff single from Ulises Caballero. The Wolf Pack retired the next two batters, but Jeff Bruyntjens came on as a pinch hitter and worked his way from an 0-2 hole to a full-count walk to move Caballero to second.

It appeared Oyama delivered the big hit CBU needed all night with a single to right field, as Caballero was waved home, but UNR's right fielder fired a bullet home to catch him before he could score and keep the Wolf Pack up by a run.

McGarvey threw a career-long 4.1 innings in which he allowed just one earned run. He struck out three batters and gave up four hits, one walk and a hit by pitch. Culpepper came on in relief and threw 2.1 shutout innings in which he gave up a hit, a walk and matched his career-high in strikeouts with four. Amrhein worked his way around two walks, with the help of two strikeouts, over the final four outs.

Christian Culpepper threw 2.1 shutout innings at Nevada. The true freshman gave up just one hit, one walk and matched his career-high of four strikeouts.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/dBPbI5MUjI
— CBU Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 7, 2020