Burica Continues To Build on Phenomenal Season With Complete-Game Gem at Seattle U

Friday, April 30

Bellevue, Wash.

4 PM

California Baptist University

26-11, 18-3

Seattle U

13-22, 7-14

California Baptist

Seattle U

Photo by: Andrew Shortall

Burica Continues To Build on Phenomenal Season With Complete-Game Gem at Seattle U

4/30/2021 7:16:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

BELLEVUE – California Baptist University baseball stretched its winning streak to seven straight with a 9-1 win in its Western Athletic Conference series opener at Seattle U.

The Lancers got another complete-game effort from Chris Burica and stayed hot offensively with their second game with 16 hits or more and seven multi-hit games on Friday at Bannerwood Park. CBU improved to 26-11 overall and 18-3 in conference with the victory, while the Redhawks drop to 13-22, 7-14.

The series will continue with a noon doubleheader on Saturday and wrap up with a 10 a.m. game on Sunday back at Bannerwood Park.

Burica was dominant yet again. He allowed just the one run on five hits, one hit by pitch and no walks while he struck out five. He faced the minimum in the second, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth innings. His four complete games this year are tied with Andrew Bash (2017) and Adam Hofacket (2015) for CBU's single-season, NCAA-era record.

Damon Keith finished a triple shy of the cycle, as he went 3-for-4 with four runs scored, two more batted in, a double and a homer out of the leadoff spot. John Glenn, the reigning WAC Hitter of the Week, stayed sharp with a 3-for-6, two runs batted in performance at the plate.

Chad Castillo went 2-for-6 with three RBI and a double. Marty Munoz and Nick Plaia both went 2-for-4, while Mitchel Simon and Harrison Spohn were each 2-for-5. Munoz scored twice and also doubled out of the nine spot.

💣💣💣

Damon Keith takes over the @WACsports lead for home runs in 2021 with #️⃣9️⃣ of the season. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/jechOiTNYH
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) April 30, 2021

BURICA'S BRINGING IT
Burica continued to put together one of the best seasons of any pitcher in the country this year and the best a Lancer pitcher has ever had. Friday marked his fourth complete game and seventh quality start of the season. This time, he held Seattle U to just the one run on five hits, one hit by pitch and no walks while he struck out five.

The left hander has gone at least seven innings in nine of his 11 starts this year, through the eighth four times and nine full on three occasions. He brought his record to 7-3 this year as he lowered his earned-run average to 2.27, his WHIP to 0.89 and his batting average against to .212.

In the WAC, Burica is tied for the lead in wins (seven), ranks first in innings pitched (79.1) by 18 innings, second in ERA, wins and complete games (three) and sixth in strikeouts (60).

𝘾𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙨 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 😤

He's just logged his fourth complete game and seventh quality start of the year. He's now tied for CBU's NCAA-era single-season record for complete games. #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/OkYo4Zx8JI
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 1, 2021

PLAY-BY-PLAY
The Lancers wasted little time in the series opener and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings. Keith and Glenn led off the game with singles and Spohn drove in the first run with a line drive down the left field line.

Let's 𝓈𝓁ℴ𝓌 𝒾𝓉 𝒹ℴ𝓌𝓃 for this swing from Harrison Spohn#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/FqJDoj5Lwy
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) April 30, 2021

Munoz kept on the attack with a one-out single for CBU in the second inning. Keith scored Munoz and himself with a two-run homer into the right center gap. It's his ninth homer of the season, which is a WAC high on the year.

Seattle U got on the board in the third inning, thanks to back-to-back singles and a sacrifice fly. The Lancers got that run back in the fourth after another leadoff hit from Munoz. Glenn put two runners on with a one-out single and a Castillo double scored Munoz to make it 4-1 CBU.

Glenn drove in CBU's fifth run with an RBI single in the sixth. Keith scored after he doubled on base and then stole third. Mitchel Simon's hot streak continued as he drove in his 10^th RBI in his last six games in the seventh.

The Lancers capped the scoring with three more runs in the ninth. Glenn had an RBI grounder and Castillo added a two-RBI single in the inning.

Another hit and two more RBI for Chad Castillo 🔥 #LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/IehO1iaVRQ
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) May 1, 2021

WAC STANDINGS UPDATE
CBU's win guarantees its WAC lead is safe for another day. The Lancers will be closely watching the WAC series between the two other top-three conference teams. Going into Friday, Grand Canyon was in second place in the WAC standings at 16-4 in conference. The Lopes are playing a big road series at third place Sacramento State (16-8). The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (13-8) kept its firm hold on fourth place in the WAC with an 8-5 win over NM State.