THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On another gorgeous Southern California day, the Cal Lutheran baseball team continued to demolish its opponents. Today's victim was Drew (N.J.) as the Kingsmen routed the Rangers 27-3 in the first of two single games between the teams.

Again, the lethal offense was a highlight as CLU connected for 25 total hits, including seven for extra bases, that led to 27 runs, but both the pitching and defensive highlight reel were worth noting as well.

On a day when 19 men stepped on the field, everyone contributed offensively with some combination of a hit, run or RBI as CLU scored in all but one inning. The hottest bats came from Sinjin Todd and Nico Filice. While Filice served as the designated hitter and went 3-for-4 with two runs and two driven in, Todd came off the bench to make a statement with a 3-for-3 showing that included a two-run double off the wall and a grand slam to put an explanation point on the overall team performance. While the bats produced, sophomore Marshall Pautsch worked 6.0 innings, scattering five hits and striking out three without allowing a run for the win.

Defense shined to start the day when Max Price made a diving stop deep in the hole at second and threw from the ground for the first out of the game on the second pitch to set the tone. On the next pitch Pautsch forced a pop-up to Price and after the three-hole hitter and clean-up man reached, Ramsey Abushahla hauled in a fly ball, over his right shoulder to end the first frame.

The Cal Lutheran offense got to work early with a leadoff single from Justin Caña before Price drew a walk. Caña moved up 90 feet on a wild pitch and Abushahla lifted a sacrifice fly for the first run of the game.

After a 1-2-3 second, the Violet and Gold picked up the bats again and produced a seven run second inning that featured 12 batters who combined for six hits as every man in the line-up reached in the frame.

Pautsch continued to cruise, facing just one man over the minimum in the third. In the fourth he only threw five pitches to force a pair of shallow fly balls and a groundball to Austin Kay at shortstop.

To start the bottom of the fourth, miscommunication in the infield from a trio of Drew players say a sky-high pop-up fall to the grass for a leadoff single from Gabe Gunter who would promptly steal second and come around to score on a Filicesac fly to the warning track in centerfield.

Cal Lutheran batters continued to assault Drew pitching in the fifth, batting around, plus some, for the second time of the contest. The Kingsmen registered seven runs as they recorded eight hits, with a triple from Gunter and a double by Abushahla as well as singles from six different players.

As the game continued numerous players came off the bench and everyone contributed. Toddnearly connected for a grand slam in the sixth inning, but settled for a two-RBI double off the top of the right field wall as CLU tacked on six more runs for a 22-0 advantage after again sending 11 Kingsmen into the batter's box.

After another long half inning, Pautsch handed the ball to Nate Wehner to wrap up his outing and ultimately improve to 2-0. Wehner retired the side in order giving the offense another opportunity.

Drew put up its first crooked number of the season in the top of the eighth inning with three runs, all unearned.

In the bottom of the inning, Todd upped the ante with another bases loaded situation. This time he got all of the pitch and launched a grand slam over the right field wall to add four more runs to the CLU tally.

Justin Garcia closed the door on the game with a three-up, three-down inning that ended with a 543 double play from Anthony Schirtz to Jeff Rebello to Erik Whittlesey.

Two-hit games today came from Abushahla, Caña, Gunter, Kay, Spencer DuBois and Kyle Sanchez. Todd drove in a game-high six runs with Sanchez and DuBois driving in four and three, respectively, and DuBois and Kay each crossed the plate four times.

Cal Lutheran (12-1) and Drew (0-2) will return to the diamond tomorrow, Monday, March 9, for another single game with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Ullman Stadium.

Box Score: CLU 27, DU 3
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