ARLINGTON, TX--- Ninth inning magic was on display at Clay Gould Ballpark for the California Baptist baseball program on Sunday afternoon as the Lancers secured the road series with a 6-3 win over UT Arlington. Nicholas Dumesnil came in clutch for the second game in a row with a two-RBI single to give CBU the lead and help earn the season's second Western Athletic Conference series. California Baptist improves to 4-2 in WAC play and is now 16-12 on the season.
It was another back-and-forth game for the Mavericks and Lancers on Sunday afternoon, battling for a much-needed conference win. CBU drew first blood in the top of the second, but the UTA would retaliate in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of runs to take its first lead of the day. Ryan Kim helped knot the game 2-2 in the sixth with his third hit of the day, but the Mavericks would retake the lead again in the following inning with an RBI single of their own.
The rubber match ultimately came down to the ninth inning, where Dumesnil shined yet again with a two-RBI single into center field to a lead that would not be relinquished. CBU added two more runs in the top of the ninth courtesy of Matt Chavez and Jake Brown, giving the Lancers a few insurance runs to secure the Sunday victory.
Kim continues to prove his worth in the designated hitter spot with his three-for-four day, while Brown and Andrew Walters registered a pair of hits each. Brown and Dumesnil both totaled two RBI on the day. From the mound, CBU delivered another solid performance from its pitching staff. Ryan Kittredge made his third Sunday start and tossed 6.2 innings, allowing five hits while sitting down four Mavericks. The Lancers only gave up three walks across nine innings and limited UTA to seven hits on the day.
CBU becomes the first WAC team to have two conference series wins with its early Sunday game, sitting at the top of the standings. California Baptist will now turn its attention to a midweek Monday game at 2 p.m. versus UNLV before hosting Grand Canyon for the last time in WAC history for its weekend series.
