LOS ANGELES, Calif. - A sixth inning two-run blast by Trevor Koons gave Cal Lutheran a 2-1 lead that held through seven innings. Occidental responded with runs in the eighth and ninth frames to hand the Kingsmen a 3-2 loss in conference action on Saturday.

Box Score: OXY 3, CLU 2 - F

Cal Lutheran again found itself on the short end of a pitching duel. However the Kingsmen put up two runs against the Tigers following Koons' third homer of the season with teammate Mike Vinyard on base in the sixth.

CLU starting pitcher Byron Minnich held the Occidental (21-17, 16-10 SCIAC) offense to just six singles over eight-plus innings of work. He used 122 pitches and left the game tied 2-2 after giving up a leadoff single in the ninth inning.

Occidental eventually loaded the bases with one out and Scott Hong at the plate. A deep fly ball would have been good enough to bring home the game-winning run, but the conference leader in stolen bases used his speed to make the difference on the game's final play.

Hong grounded the 1-2 offering from CLU pitcher Chris Park to shortstop Trevor Koons. The middle infield duo of Koons and Garrett Smith tried to turn a game extending double play, but Hong was able to beat the throw as the Tigers went on to victory.

Cal Lutheran went just 3-for-28 (.107) at the plate as a team against four different Occidental pitchers. Nicho DellaValle led the Kingsmen collecting two of the team's three base hits.

Hong collected the game-winning RBI and with it gave himself his first win of the season after tossing a perfect ninth inning on the mound. Minnich was tagged with the loss (5-5) despite turning in his sixth quality outing in 10 starts this season. In his previous start against the Tigers he threw eight innings and allowed three runs and was on the winning end of a 16-3 score.

Cal Lutheran (20-14, 15-10 SCIAC) will host Redlands (18-16, 12-13 SCIAC) on Sunday, April 22, at 1 p.m.