SEATTLE, WA --- The California Baptist baseball program kicked off a crucial Western Athletic Conference weekend series strong on Friday morning after taking down Seattle U 11-4. With just two more WAC series on the schedule, the Lancers must secure a sweep against the Redhawks for a chance at a first-round bye in the post-season tournament, and CBU is off to a strong start. Relentless offense coupled with electric pitching improved the Lancers to 10-9 in the conference standings, while moving the squad to 27-23 on the season.
Small ball put the Lancers on the board first straight out of the gates, plating three for an early lead. However, both squads would score four scoreless frames until the sixth inning, when a Nicholas Dumesnil RBI single kick-started the Lancer offense for the latter third of the ball game. Seattle U played a bit of small ball in the bottom of the seventh for a pair of runs, but the Lancers came roaring back with a six-run eighth inning highlighted by a pair of triples from Dumesnil and Andrew Walters.
The Redhawks did not go quietly on their home field, posting a two-run home run that came after Julian Alvarez robbed the home team of another solo shot earlier that inning. Seattle U ultimately could not get enough momentum going to complete the comeback, succumbing to the Lancers 11-4. Cody New posted another solid performance from the mound on Friday morning after tossing seven complete innings and allowing just five hits while sitting down ten Redhawks. Dumesnil and Walters both snagged three hits during the Friday game, while Julian Alvarez picked up his 100th career hit.
CBU's second game against the Redhawks will be played at Funko Field tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m. PST and will not be broadcasted, but fans can follow along with live stats here.
