THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - In a top 15 showdown, No. 11 Cal Lutheran turned four double plays and got a go-ahead three-run home run from Justin Cana in the fourth inning as it defeated No. 15 Ithaca (N.Y.) 8-4 Thursday afternoon at Ullman Stadium. The Bombers loaded the bases in the top of the ninth inning and sent the game-winning run to the plate but CLU closer Aaron Roth struck out Christian Brown looking to end the game and give the Kingsmen their fourth straight win.
The Bombers threatened in the first when Tim Henry singled and Colby Gee was hit by a pitch but Cal Lutheran starter Tyler Nevins would get Vinnie Gneo to ground into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.
Cal Lutheran would capitalize in the bottom of the inning when Kyle Sanchez singled and then was brought home on a Ramsey Abushahla RBI-double.
Ithaca would tie things up in the bottom of the second when Stephen Yanchus tripled to lead off the inning and then later scored on a Brown single. Connor Sipes came on in relief after Ithaca loaded the bases and avoided any further damage when he got Matt Connolly to hit into a 4-6-3 double play again.
Riding the momentum of the strong defense, Cal Lutheran took the lead for good when Cana blasted his second home run of the season and scored Davey Casciola and Spencer DuBois to put CLU up 4-1.
The teams would exchange runs in the third before Cal Lutheran broke the game open with two more in the bottom of the fourth. Sanchez continued his strong offensive debut, driving in his 14th run in just 10 games when he connected with a double to deep right field. The freshman moved to third on a balk and then was brought home on a sharply hit double down the right field line from Collin Crowl.
After a 1-2-3 fourth inning, Sipes gave up three straight singles to start the fifth, allowing Ithaca to get a run back but the freshman would buckle down and get another double play and lineout to end the threat.
Sipes then struck out two of three batters in the top of the sixth before Jake Petersen extended his hitting-streak to 15 games when he laced an RBI triple past a sliding left fielder.
Mitchell Shields came on in the seventh and gave up a lead-off single but then induced a 6-4-3 double play ball of his own to end the inning.
The Bombers loaded the bases to start the ninth inning on three singles. CLU relief pitcher Cam Adams would get to two outs but Ithaca gained a run back when he walked in Josh Savacool. Needing one more out, CLU brought on Roth (4 saves) and after a close call on a 2-2 pitch, the senior All-American caught Brown looking with a fastball on the outside corner to end the game.
Sipes (2-0) earned the victory after pitching 4.2 innings while allowing two runs on six hits.
Ithaca starter Benji Parkes (0-2) suffered the loss, going 3.2 innings and giving up seven runs on eight hits.
Cana led the Kingsmen at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored. Sanchez scored three times while Abushahla had two doubles.
Gee and Henry were both 3-for-4 at the plate for the Bombers.
Cal Lutheran (10-3) returns to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on Friday, March 14, for the series opener against Occidental. First pitch at Anderson Field in Los Angeles is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
Box Score: CLU 8 IC 4
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