LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Taking an early lead in both games against the Caltech Beavers, the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen completed their weekend sweep, winning both games played at Caltech North Field by scores of 16-3 and 12-0.
Box Score (Game One): CLU 16, CIT 3 - F/8
Box Score (Game Two): CLU 12, CIT 0 - F/8
Cal Lutheran 16, Caltech 3 - F/8
Leading 3-1 after four full innings, Cal Lutheran extended its lead by one before scoring 12 runs combined in the final two innings to defeat the host Beavers in what would become the first of two eight-inning contests.
Striking out eight batters throughout his six innings on the mound, CLU right-handed Ian Durham allowed only five hits to earn his third victory of the season.
Cal Lutheran centerfielder Iggy Wagner and catcher Colin Gray each led the team with their three RBI, two of eight Kingsmen that increased their RBI totals against the Beavers pitching staff.
Scoring four runs throughout the first four innings, the Cal Lutheran bats exploded for seven runs in the seventh which essentially enabled Cal Lutheran to earn the win.
By scoring another five runs in the eighth, the Kingsmen were finally able to officially record their 19th overall, and 13th SCIAC victory of the season once Kingsmen reliever Jordan Cox forced Beavers centerfielder David Carrega to hit a pop fly to CLU second baseman Travis Dadigan to end the game.
In that eventful seventh, 13 Cal Lutheran batters were able to take their swings against Rosenberg and Caltech reliever Scott Yantek, increasing their two run lead by another seven, loading the bases on two seperate occasions. In total, Cal Lutheran was able to light up another seven on the scoreboard on six singles, three walks, a Caltech wild pitch, and one hit CLU batter.
Three of the seven runs were scored with two outs already recorded by the Beavers.
Beginning the CLU eighth with a solo home run hit by Richard Michelin, his second of the season, Trevor Koons drove in two additional runs later that inning on his triple before touching home plate himself during Wagner's final at-bat of the game to score the final Kingsmen run.
Cal Lutheran 12, Caltech 0 - F/8
Enabling Caltech to score three runs in their lopsided victory in game one, Cal Lutheran pitchers Spencer Trygg and Byron Minnich combined efforts to prevent the Beavers from scoring another one as each threw four full innings in the Kingsmen's 12-3 game two victory.
Replicating their efforts from the previous game, CLU took an early lead against the Beavers, and pulled away with another seven run effort to build a sizable enough lead to end the game after eight innings.
Combining to fan a total of 12 Beavers, Trygg and Minnich allowed only five hits throughout the entire game, all of which were singles. Allowing only one Caltech batter past second base throughout the entire contest, the pair earned CLU's third shutout of the year.
During one four-inning portion of the game, CLU was able to record 10 consecutive outs before Caltech right fielder Nick Robertson reached first on the Beavers' final hit of the afternoon.
With Cal Lutheran third baseman Nick Boggan recording four hits in his five at-bats, two of which were doubles, the Kingsmen were able to score 14 runs on 12 hits to complete the weekend sweep against Caltech.
In addition to Boggan, designated hitter Danny Gallinot also hit two doubles, finishing 3-for-4 and drew one of CLU's seven walks earned throughout game two.
With the exception of a make-up game against Occidental that was originally postponed due to inclement weather on February 18, the Kingsmen will compete in one more game against all of their SCIAC opponents to close out the season.
Returning to action this Friday, Cal Lutheran will travel to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in search of their second straight SCIAC sweep. First pitch will take place at 3:00 p.m.