Friday, April 16
St. George, Utah
5 PM
California Baptist University
at
Dixie State
Photo by: Zac Zeman zaczeman.com
BASE PREVIEW: CBU Takes WAC Lead on the Road For Reunion At Dixie State
4/13/2021 11:07:00 AM | Baseball
ST. GEORGE – It's back to Western Athletic Conference play for California Baptist University baseball, as the Lancers will look to build on their lead in the league standings in a four-game series at Dixie State.
CBU is coming off a big 9-7 win at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, while the Titans won the non-conference series overall. The Lancers carry a 19-9 overall and 11-1 WAC record into this weekend. It gives them a two-game lead in the conference.
Sacramento State (13-3) and Grand Canyon (12-4) are just a few games back of CBU in the WAC in second and third place. NM State (9-7), The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (8-8) and Dixie State (7-9) round out the top-six teams.
The Lancers have won all three of their WAC series so far, with home sweeps of Northern Colorado, Tarleton State and a 3-1 win at UTRGV.
CULPEPPER'S RECORD PACE
Closer CJ Culpepper has recorded nine saves this year, which is three more than the next WAC pitcher and is tied for the NCAA Division I lead with Miami's Carson Palmquist, Stanford's Zach Grech and Southern's Nick Jones.
Culpepper is one off the Lancers' all-time record for saves in a season, which Charlie Eckenrod set at 10 in 2001. He overtook Caleb Dirks' team NCAA-era record of eight from back in 2014. Culpepper is already tied for the fourth most saves in any CBU season, and just three off Eckenrod's season record.
GAME ON FOR DAMON
Damon Keith has been on fire this season for CBU. The outfielder has started in all 28 games and leads the Lancers in batting average (.353), slugging percentage (.569), on-base percentage (.432), hits (36), runs (25), stolen bases (eight) and home runs (five).
In the WAC, Keith ranks second in hits, third in stolen bases, fifth in runs and slugging percentage, sixth in batting average and home runs and eighth in on-base percentage. He has a hit in 20 of 28 games, 11 multi-hit performances and five three-hit games on the year.
ARMS RACE
Pitching has been the strength of CBU this season, as the Lancers are holding teams to 4.28 runs a game this season while averaging 4.85 runs a game this year. Starting pitching has been fantastic for CBU, as the Lancers starters have a 3.44 ERA on the year.
Staff ace Chris Burica has been downright dominant. He's thrown complete-game shutouts at Cal and UTRGV and currently has a 2.56 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, .209 opposing batting average and 46 strikeouts to seven walks over 56.1 innings.
Bryan Pope and Liam Rocha have both made at least seven starts this year, while Drew Necochea and Ryan Delgado have also made two starts or more.
Necochea appears to have earned his spot in the starting rotation, as he's started in the last three CBU series. Overall, he has a 2-0 record, 1.61 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and .200 opposing batting average, with 17 strikeouts over 22.1 innings this year. He's been even better starting games, with a 1.15 ERA and .182 BAA in three starts.
Culpepper, Jacob McCarvel and Matt Amrhein have been the go-to options out of the bullpen, with each making at least 10 appearances. Amrhein has a 2.14 ERA and .240 BAA, while McCarvel has a 3.57 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and .224 BAA.
SERIES INFORMATION
Opponent: Dixie State
Dates/Times: Friday, April 16 (5 p.m.); Saturday, April 17 (1 p.m.); Sunday, April 18 (11 a.m.)
Location: St. George, Utah (Goodwin Field)
CBU Radio: Sidearm – Game 1 | Games 2-3 | Game 4
Live Stats: Sidearm
Video: WAC Digital Network – Game 1 | Games 2-3 | Game 4
TRAILBLAZERS AT A GLANCE
Dixie State is in its first year of NCAA Division I and WAC membership, as it begins its transition from Division II. The Trailblazers are a familiar opponent for CBU, as they were PacWest foes from 2012-18. So far, DSU is 9-20 overall but has played a tough schedule, with series against Washington State, Wichita State and USC.
In WAC play, the Trailblazers are coming off their first-ever WAC series win at home over Tarleton State (3-1). They split their home series against UTRGV and lost series to Sacramento State and NM State. Dixie State owns several impressive wins this year over BYU, Utah, Sacramento State and NMSU.
Offense has been DSU's strength this season, with a .255 team batting average, while its pitching staff has a 10.19 ERA and .343 batting average against.
Kaden Hollow has been one of the best hitting in the WAC this season. He ranks second in the conference in batting average (.383) and home runs (seven) and third in runs batted in (27). Tyler Hollow (.311) Chase Rodriguez (.308) and Jake Engel (.304) are also regulars hitting over .300.
On the pitching front, Jimmy Borzone has been the Friday starter and earned WAC Pitcher of the Week honors on April 5 after he recorded the second no-hitter in Dixie State's NCAA era, and the 25th no-hitter in WAC history, in a 5-1 win over Tarleton State.
Tevita Gerber, Ryan Hardman and Ben Hart have all made at least four starts, as well. Brayden Bonner has a team-high three saves, while Dillon Holliday has Dixie State's other save and the best ERA (3.63), WHIP (1.15) and BAA (.210) on the team over 14 appearances, three starts and 17.1 innings.
CBU is coming off a big 9-7 win at Cal State Fullerton on Sunday, while the Titans won the non-conference series overall. The Lancers carry a 19-9 overall and 11-1 WAC record into this weekend. It gives them a two-game lead in the conference.
Sacramento State (13-3) and Grand Canyon (12-4) are just a few games back of CBU in the WAC in second and third place. NM State (9-7), The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (8-8) and Dixie State (7-9) round out the top-six teams.
The Lancers have won all three of their WAC series so far, with home sweeps of Northern Colorado, Tarleton State and a 3-1 win at UTRGV.
CULPEPPER'S RECORD PACE
Closer CJ Culpepper has recorded nine saves this year, which is three more than the next WAC pitcher and is tied for the NCAA Division I lead with Miami's Carson Palmquist, Stanford's Zach Grech and Southern's Nick Jones.
Culpepper is one off the Lancers' all-time record for saves in a season, which Charlie Eckenrod set at 10 in 2001. He overtook Caleb Dirks' team NCAA-era record of eight from back in 2014. Culpepper is already tied for the fourth most saves in any CBU season, and just three off Eckenrod's season record.
GAME ON FOR DAMON
Damon Keith has been on fire this season for CBU. The outfielder has started in all 28 games and leads the Lancers in batting average (.353), slugging percentage (.569), on-base percentage (.432), hits (36), runs (25), stolen bases (eight) and home runs (five).
In the WAC, Keith ranks second in hits, third in stolen bases, fifth in runs and slugging percentage, sixth in batting average and home runs and eighth in on-base percentage. He has a hit in 20 of 28 games, 11 multi-hit performances and five three-hit games on the year.
ARMS RACE
Pitching has been the strength of CBU this season, as the Lancers are holding teams to 4.28 runs a game this season while averaging 4.85 runs a game this year. Starting pitching has been fantastic for CBU, as the Lancers starters have a 3.44 ERA on the year.
Staff ace Chris Burica has been downright dominant. He's thrown complete-game shutouts at Cal and UTRGV and currently has a 2.56 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, .209 opposing batting average and 46 strikeouts to seven walks over 56.1 innings.
Bryan Pope and Liam Rocha have both made at least seven starts this year, while Drew Necochea and Ryan Delgado have also made two starts or more.
Necochea appears to have earned his spot in the starting rotation, as he's started in the last three CBU series. Overall, he has a 2-0 record, 1.61 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and .200 opposing batting average, with 17 strikeouts over 22.1 innings this year. He's been even better starting games, with a 1.15 ERA and .182 BAA in three starts.
Culpepper, Jacob McCarvel and Matt Amrhein have been the go-to options out of the bullpen, with each making at least 10 appearances. Amrhein has a 2.14 ERA and .240 BAA, while McCarvel has a 3.57 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and .224 BAA.
SERIES INFORMATION
Opponent: Dixie State
Dates/Times: Friday, April 16 (5 p.m.); Saturday, April 17 (1 p.m.); Sunday, April 18 (11 a.m.)
Location: St. George, Utah (Goodwin Field)
CBU Radio: Sidearm – Game 1 | Games 2-3 | Game 4
Live Stats: Sidearm
Video: WAC Digital Network – Game 1 | Games 2-3 | Game 4
TRAILBLAZERS AT A GLANCE
Dixie State is in its first year of NCAA Division I and WAC membership, as it begins its transition from Division II. The Trailblazers are a familiar opponent for CBU, as they were PacWest foes from 2012-18. So far, DSU is 9-20 overall but has played a tough schedule, with series against Washington State, Wichita State and USC.
In WAC play, the Trailblazers are coming off their first-ever WAC series win at home over Tarleton State (3-1). They split their home series against UTRGV and lost series to Sacramento State and NM State. Dixie State owns several impressive wins this year over BYU, Utah, Sacramento State and NMSU.
Offense has been DSU's strength this season, with a .255 team batting average, while its pitching staff has a 10.19 ERA and .343 batting average against.
Kaden Hollow has been one of the best hitting in the WAC this season. He ranks second in the conference in batting average (.383) and home runs (seven) and third in runs batted in (27). Tyler Hollow (.311) Chase Rodriguez (.308) and Jake Engel (.304) are also regulars hitting over .300.
On the pitching front, Jimmy Borzone has been the Friday starter and earned WAC Pitcher of the Week honors on April 5 after he recorded the second no-hitter in Dixie State's NCAA era, and the 25th no-hitter in WAC history, in a 5-1 win over Tarleton State.
Tevita Gerber, Ryan Hardman and Ben Hart have all made at least four starts, as well. Brayden Bonner has a team-high three saves, while Dillon Holliday has Dixie State's other save and the best ERA (3.63), WHIP (1.15) and BAA (.210) on the team over 14 appearances, three starts and 17.1 innings.
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