THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The No. 8 Cal Lutheran baseball team got off to a quick start in the new season with an 11-5 victory over Whitworth (Wash.) at Ullman Stadium on Friday afternoon.

Scott Peters (1-0) got the start and the win for the Kingsmen after pitching a strong seven innings and notching seven strikeouts. The senior southpaw scattered four hits, walked two and allowed just one earned run in the game.

The CLU bats were ready from the opening pitch and junior centerfielder Justin Caña and senior second basemen Max Price stroked back-to-back singles to open the bottom of the first. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch and a Gabe Gunter single to center drove in Caña for the first run of the game.

Ramsey Abushahla followed with another single to score Price, and Gunter came around on a sac fly from Davey Casciola. After a walk to Collin Crowl, sophomore shortstop Austin Kay singled through the left side scoring Abushahla giving the Kingsmen an early 4-0 lead.

After batting around in the first inning, Caña led off again in the second and reached first after getting hit by a pitch. Price reached on a walk and sophomore designated hitter Kyle Sanchez bunted the runners over to second and third. Gunter came up with another RBI single bringing Caña home for his second run in as many innings.

After a fly out by Abushahla, Casciola stepped up to the plate and roped a deep triple to left center to score Gunter and Price and give CLU a 7-0 lead.

The Kingsmen gave a strong defensive effort throughout the game, highlighted by a diving catch at the centerfield wall by Caña in the top of the fourth inning.

After Whitworth etched across a run in the top of the sixth, CLU responded immediately in the bottom half with another offensive outburst.

Price led off with a walk and a Sanchez single and another walk to Gunter loaded the bases. Abushahla promptly tagged a double to left center for two RBI to score Sanchez and Price, and Casciola grounded out to bring in Gunter. With one out, Crowl tripled to left field to score Abushahla and give the Kingsmen an 11-1 lead.

Connor Sipes relieved Peters in the top of the eighth inning and struck out the first batter he faced, although the Pirates were able to string together a few hits and cut the Kingsmen lead down to 11-4.

Whitworth scored another run in the ninth inning before Landry Kiyabu entered the game and struck out the final two batters.

Abushahla led the potent offensive attack going 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs while Casciola had a game-high four RBIs on a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Caña and Gunter also had two hits apiece and Price joined Gunter with three runs scored in his CLU debut. Also appearing in the Violet and Gold for the first time were Brett Green and Jeff Rebello who came off the bench to play in the infield and outfield, respectively.

Cal Lutheran (1-0) will return to the diamond tomorrow for a doubleheader against Puget Sound set to begin at 11:00 a.m. inside Ullman Stadium.

Box Score: CLU 11, WHTW 5
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