RIVERSIDE--- The California Baptist baseball program picked up right where it left off on Tuesday evening after run-ruling the University of San Francisco 11-1 in seven innings. Andrew Rudd was phenomenal on the mound for the Lancers in his fourth start of the season, going nearly five innings without giving up a hit. The Lancers improve to 8-9 on the season and drop the Dons to 8-9 before heading to the East Coast to face Power 4 Rutgers this weekend.
After a scoreless first, CBU forced their way onto the board first after scoring on a passed ball at the hands of the USF catcher. The Lancers would press the Dons again in the bottom of the third and scored their second run after being walked in. With the bases still loaded, Andrew Walters stepped up to the plate and dished his first home run of the season in a grand slam to push the Lancer's lead to 6-0.
The Dons picked up their first hit of the night in the second batter after putting the leadoff hitter aboard via a fielding error. A sacrifice fly would bring home one run for visitors, but Rudd stopped the bleeding with a ground out to end his time on the mound. After putting up a pair in the bottom of the sixth, CBU called game in the seventh after Bubba Rocha struck an RBI single to the third baseman, who made no attempt at the out. The Tuesday win marks the second run-rule victory for the Lancers this season after besting Pepperdine earlier this year 12-2.
CBU will now head to the East Coast to face Rutgers for the first time in a three-game weekend series tune-up before returning home for Western Athletic Conference play. Weekend play begins on Friday afternoon at 1 p.m. PST, and fans can watch the games on BIG10+ with purchase.
