THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Ullman Stadium and George "Sparky" Anderson Field served as host to day one of the California Invitational. Eastern Connecticut State used a three run rally in the ninth to steal a 7-5 victory over CLU. In game two the Kingsmen bounced back to defeat Puget Sound 5-2.

Box Score: ECSU 7, CLU 5 - F (Game 1)
Box Score: CLU 5, UPS 2 - F (Game 2)

In game one the defense turned three double plays, each to end an inning and the offense scored five runs on 11 hits, but it was the visiting Warriors from Eastern Connecticut who left the diamond victorious after a late rally. ECSU sent nine men to the plate in the ninth and forced a pair of CLU pitching changes. The Warriors had four hits in the inning, with two doubles, and executed a suicide squeeze, for the ultimate winning run.

CLU ended the first, second and eighth innings with double plays. In a shaky first inning that saw two men hit by pitches and one drew a walk, Nick Boggan and Kevin Eto combined for a 3-2-3 double play to end the threat. To end the second frame Garrett Smith fed Trevor Koons who fired over to Boggan at first. In the eighth Tyler Hebda, who was tagged with the loss, fielded a comebacker for a 1-6-3 inning ender.

In the first inning for CLU, leadoff man Iggy Wagner raced around the bases for a seemingly effortless triple and came in to score on a balk call, giving the Kingsmen an early 1-0 advantage. A pair of ECSU errors led to two CLU runs in the bottom of the second, giving the home squad a three run cushion.

Dominick Solley made a sliding grab to end the top of the fifth and preserve the shutout for Byron Minnich and the Kingsmen.

The scoreless streak for Eastern Connecticut came to an end in the sixth when the Warriors scored twice. A two-out rally started with a bunt single by Andrew Merritt. A double from Brendan Lynch knocked Minnich from the game. Adam Rodderick got the visiting squad on the board with a two-run single to center.

CLU got a run back in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out rally of their own. Smith singled and stole second before Wagner walked. Smith came around to score from second on an RBI- single to center from Solley.

A four pitch seventh inning was all Chris Park needed, getting a trio of fly ball outs.

The Kingsmen added another run in the seventh on an RBI single by Eto, scoring Boggan who led the inning off with a double to center.

In the eighth, the Warriors harassed reliever Spencer Trygg for two runs and three hits, ending his day without having recorded an out. Hebda was knocked around for three more runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of work. Brian Kernochan recorded the final out of the game.

Cal Lutheran had opportunities in both the eighth and ninth innings, leaving runners on third and second and third, respectively.

Boggan, Solley and Wagner had two hits apiece

Eastern Connecticut State (5-1) got a 4-for-5 day from Drew Accomando who also scored two runs. Rodderick was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs. Michael Hepple earned his first win of the spring out of the bullpen and Evan Chamberlain recorded his first save of 2012.

In game two, Cal Lutheran served as the visiting team against Puget Sound.

Trailing 1-0, the Kingsmen got another leadoff hit from Wagner in the sixth to set the stage. Elon Goldman tripled to left center, scoring Wagner to tie things. Koons immediately laced an RBI single to right field to give the home team a lead. Nicho DellaValle reached on an infield single to start the seventh and stole second before Wagner stroked his second triple of the day for the game winning run.

After the game Wagner talked to his big day at the plate.

"I was not trying to do anything too big; just see the ball and hit the ball and it worked out today," he said. "We knew we had to keep on working and plugging away and we never lost confidence."

UPS added a run in the eighth on a pass ball, but Matt Burden came in to retire the next three batters in order with a runner on third. The freshman fielded a comebacker for the first out, got a swinging strike out and a ground ball to Craig Jacobson at second to end it.

CLU added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth. DellaValle capped off his 3-for-4 day at the plate with a single and came in to score on a UPS error later in the inning. Jacobson was hit by a pitch and scored on a Goldman ground ball, which resulted in a double-play for the Loggers.

Hebda recorded the final three outs of the day in misty rain for his fourth save of the season. Peter Ciaramitaro (3-0) earned the win after scattering seven hits over 7.0 innings. He allowed just one earned run and struck out six men on the brisk afternoon.

"The weather actually helped me get a better grip on the ball and I was able to control it today," Ciaramitaro said after the game. "I felt comfortable out there." He commended the coaching staff as well. "The coaches called a good game, mixing up pitches and we were able to keep the hitters off balance."

Boggan reached base four times as he was 2-for-2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch. He also stole a base in the eighth. Wagner had another two-hit game. Goldman drove in two and scored once.

Cal Lutheran (13-7) continues California Invitational action on Saturday, March 17 with a pair against Rutgers-Newark and Ithaca on George "Sparky" Anderson Field at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

After the game Wagner talked to his big day at the plate.

"I was not trying to do anything too big; just see the ball and hit the ball and it worked out today," he said. "We knew we had to keep on working and plugging away and we never lost confidence."

UPS added a run in the eighth on a pass ball, but Matt Burden came in to retire the next three batters in order with a runner on third. The freshman fielded a comebacker for the first out, got a swinging strike out and a ground ball to Craig Jacobson at second to end it.

CLU added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth. DellaValle capped off his 3-for-4 day at the plate with a single and came in to score on a UPS error later in the inning. Jacobson was hit by a pitch and scored on a Goldman ground ball, which resulted in a double-play for the Loggers.

Hebda recorded the final three outs of the day in misty rain for his fourth save of the season. Peter Ciaramitaro (3-0) earned the win after scattering seven hits over 7.0 innings. He allowed just one earned run and struck out six men on the brisk afternoon.

"The weather actually helped me get a better grip on the ball and I was able to control it today," Ciaramitaro said after the game. "I felt comfortable out there." He commended the coaching staff as well. "The coaches called a good game, mixing up pitches and we were able to keep the hitters off balance."

Boggan reached base four times as he was 2-for-2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch. He also stole a base in the eighth. Wagner had another two-hit game. Goldman drove in two and scored once.

Cal Lutheran (13-7) continues California Invitational action on Saturday, March 17 with a pair against Rutgers-Newark and Ithaca on George "Sparky" Anderson Field at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.