CBU Secures WAC Series Victory at NM State

Saturday, March 26

Las Cruces, N.M.

4 PM

California Baptist University

15-5, 4-4

NM State

10-10, 2-6

California Baptist

New Mexico State

CBU Secures WAC Series Victory at NM State

3/26/2022 7:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Andrew Shortall, Director of Athletics Communications

LAS CRUCES – A five-run seventh inning and a quality start from Brandon Downer led California Baptist University baseball to a 9-4 win over NM State on Saturday.

It secures the Western Athletic Conference series victory for the Lancers, who hit at least three home runs for the fourth game in a row to improve to 15-6 this season and 4-4 in the WAC West Division. The Aggies drop to 10-10 and 2-6.

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Downer, a true freshman, put together a career performance as he logged season-highs in innings pitched (7.1) and strikeouts (nine). He gave up just two earned runs on four hits and two walks. He took a no-hitter into the fifth and retired the Aggies in order in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings.

Michael Carpentier continued to swing a hot bat, as he went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three runs scored. Chad Castillo (2-for-5) logged four runs batted in for the second game in a row and hit a homer of his own. David Martin went 2-for-4 with two RBI and Mitchel Simon also had two hits.

Michael Carpentier opens the scoring with his second home run of the season!#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/5sCmi3QoX2
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 27, 2022

PLAY-BY-PLAY
Despite the final score, both teams were scoreless through four complete. Carpentier's first homer led off the fifth and scored the first run but NMSU got that run back in the bottom half after a walk and an error.

What was a close game was flipped on its head when the Lancers scored five in the seventh. Caprentier, Simon and Grady Tuohy loaded the bases with no outs on three-straight singles to start the inning. Martin drove in two with a one-out, full-count single and Castillo hit a no-doubt, three-run bomb with two outs to make it 6-1 CBU.

Word is this Chad Castillo homer still hasn't landed 😲 #LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/hz5whfNB7L
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 27, 2022

The Lancers added a run in the eighth on Carpentier's second homer, and two more in the ninth on an RBI double from Harrison Spohn and a Castillo RBI single. It gave them enough insurance to hold NM State as it scored two in the eighth and one in the ninth.

Harrison Spohn is on 🔥#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/B0V2crOBqf
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 27, 2022

CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
CBU continues to improve its standing in the WAC West Division as it's alone in fourth place with a 4-4 league mark. Grand Canyon leads the division at 7-1, while Dixie State (7-4) and Seattle U (5-3) round out the top three. Sacramento State (3-5), NMSU (2-6) and Utah Valley (2-7) round out the West Division.

UP NEXT
CBU and NM State close out its series Sunday, March 27 at 11 a.m. Pacific. The Lancers will be back at home next week, hosting San Diego for a non-conference game on Tuesday, March 29 at 6 p.m. and then will bring in Seattle U for a WAC series Friday through Sunday, April 1-3.

𝘾𝘼𝙍𝙋 𝘿𝙊𝙀𝙎 𝙄𝙏 𝘼𝙂𝘼𝙄𝙉 💣

Michael Carpentier just hit his second home run of the game!#LanceUp⚔ pic.twitter.com/CpkaZ0zcJT
— California Baptist Baseball (@CBUbaseball) March 27, 2022