RIVERSIDE--- California Baptist University baseball opened the third weekend of the 2025 season on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader scheduled against the University of Utah and UC Riverside. The Lancers fell to Utah 13-5 in what started as a competitive match before turning around and dropping the second game of the day 3-0 to UCR. CBU is now 4-6 on the season, while both opponents improve to winning records.

UTAH 13 - 5 CBU

Despite the final line heavily favoring the Utes, CBU started the day extremely competitive and found an early 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Utah would regain their footing and plate four runs during the third and fourth innings, with the Lancers just behind after Nicholas Dumesnil ripped a double down the left-field line for an RBI. Another double from Cole Howarth put CBU within one run of the Utes, but a devastating two final innings saw the visitors score seven runs to blow up any chances of a comeback from the Lancers.

California Baptist's pitching staff struggled to get out three innings after working through a trio of pitchers before Kade Finazzo shut down the Utas with a strikeout to end the top of the ninth inning. CBU's five hits came from five different Lancers, highlighted by Howarth's trio of RBI.

UCR 3 - 0 CBU

The second match of the day was a slow burner that featured solid defense from the Lancers, but a lack of bats from the home squad ultimately secured the win for the Highlanders. UCR got on the board right out of the gates, posting a lone run in the top of the first. The Lancers managed to hold off the Highlanders for two more innings, but another run would dribble home in the top of the fourth and then again in the top of the eighth.

While California Baptist saw numerous three-batter innings, the Lancer's best opportunity came in the bottom of the eighth after both Dumesnil and Connor Ross made their way to base with one out on the board. Ryan Kim battled it out at the plate and was ultimately struck out, but a double steal was thwarted by the designated hitter stepping in front of the catcher after being called out. Kim disrupted the throw from the catcher to his second baseman, and UCR earned the third out of the inning on a batter interference call to secure the win.

California Baptist will return to Totman Stadium tomorrow evening for the second and final match-up against the Utes at 6 p.m. before heading across town to the Plex on Sunday to duel UCR once again.