RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist baseball program entertained the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Monday afternoon for a midweek tilt and emerged victorious for CBU's fifth win in a row. The 6-2 win over the Rebels improved the Lancer's record to 25-13 on the season before resuming Western Athletic Conference play on Friday evening.
Josh Paino had an impressive day in the box for California Baptist, as the junior tallied three hits, two runs, a pair of RBI, and a double. Ryan Kittredge picked up his first on the mound this season for the Lancers and did well, sitting down three Rebels and not allowing a hit during his 10th appearance this season.
After a scoreless first inning for both sides, Matthew Darr drew first blood with a sacrificial bunt to bring home Paino for an early lead that CBU never relinquished to the away team. Michael Carpentier tallied his 19th double of the season to extend the Lancer's lead to two after driving in Mitchel Simon, and Paino cleaned up the third inning with an RBI single for a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth.
California Baptist would strike again in the fifth inning with a two-RBI double from Paino, who ultimately went 3-for-3 at the plate, and Connor McGuire's single to center field tallied the Lancer's fifth unanswered run of the day. UNLV managed to end CBU's 30-inning runless streak with a well-placed single down the left field line to bring in the squad's only two runs of the game. Nicholas Dumesnil tied the game with a bow as he knocked a solo homer over right field for his tenth of the season, ensuring CBU's 25th win of the year.
The Lancers will head to Texas this weekend to continue WAC play against Abilene Christian in a three-game road series that begins on Friday evening. CBU is currently tied in the standings with Grand Canyon, both boasting 11-4 records, while ACU is just a single game behind.
