THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran earned 8-2 and 3-2 victories over Whittier at "Sparky" Anderson Field on Saturday to earn the weekend series sweep. The Kingsmen bats came alive in game one and an extra inning walk-off winner by senior Richard Michelin capped off the day.
Box Score (Game 1): CLU 8, WC 2 – F
Box Score (Game 2): CLU 3, WC 2 – F/11
Strong pitching performances and some walk-off magic were the Cal Lutheran highlights as the Kingsmen completed the sweep of an extremely spirited SCIAC series. Game one winner Peter Ciaramitaro struck out 12 in eight innings and Michelin struck the final blow in game two.
Cal Lutheran 8, Whittier 2 – F
Four hits and three runs in the opening Kingsmen at bat would be enough run support for CLU starting pitcher Peter Ciaramitaro. The hurler went eight innings striking out 12 batters. During one stretch he fanned six in a row and finished the seventh inning by striking out the side.
Sophomore John Leal watched as the first Kingsmen run of the fifth came in via a bases loaded balk by pitcher Ryan Schwenn. On the following pitch he connected for his second RBI-single of the afternoon.
Nick Boggan went 2-for-4 including a seventh inning home run to right field to put the Kingsmen up 6-2. Following that at bat K.C. Judge capped off a 4-for-4, two-RBI day at the plate.
Ciaramitaro's strikeout total matches the highest output since Gabe Ward equaled that mark on May 4, 2007 against CSU East Bay.
Cal Lutheran 3, Whittier 2 – F/11 Inn.
The Kingsmen scored two first inning runs but left the bases loaded in what was a theme throughout most of game two. Cal Lutheran would strand 13 runners in all but the final run scored following Michelin's walk-off single in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Whittier starting pitcher Casey Serna settled in after the first frame tossing a three-hitter through 5.2 innings before being lifted. Counterpart John LaMoure went 7.2 innings and outside of a third inning featuring two hits highlighted by Andrew Vallejo's two run third double he held the Poets offense in check.
Familiar faces on the mound finished the game as Spencer Trygg got the final out of the seventh preserving the tie and went on to complete the eighth. After tossing four innings to close out yesterday's game Byron Minnich tossed an efficient two innings to close out yet another game throwing 13 pitches needing only four to record the first three outs.
The game nearly ended on the second at bat of the Kingsmen half of the 11th when Trevor Koons soared one to left center off the outfield wall for a double. On the ensuing at bat pinch runner Chris Meyers took off for third on a grounder to the shortstop. The freshman speedster took the throw off the back putting runners at the corners with one out.
Michelin, admittedly not his best day heading into that at bat 1-for-7, took Tyler Fallon's fastball offering the other way and was swarmed by teammates after Meyers touched home for the game-winning run.
Opposing catcher Darby Weppner, who had hit two home runs in Friday's game including the equalizer in the bottom of the ninth, was held in check on Saturday going hitless in eight at bats.
Cal Lutheran (12-6, 9-2 SCIAC) will host a pair of non-conference doubleheaders on Friday, Mar. 18 and Saturday, Mar. 19. The four-game set is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. against regional opponent Puget Sound.