THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the Cal Lutheran baseball team took on National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) No. 16 Westmont at George "Sparky" Anderson Field inside Ullman Stadium where they fell 8-3 after the Warriors jumped out to an early lead and never looked back.
Westmont put five runs on the board in the top of the first inning after their first six batters reached base. After two walks and a single to load the bases, the Warriors roped back-to-back singles to drive in the first two runs. A Kingsmen error allowed two more runs to score and a double from Graylin Derke capped off the scoring.
After the Warriors tacked on another run to take a 6-0 lead in the second, the Kingsmen cut the deficit in half with three runs in the bottom of the frame. Davey Casciola and Weston Clark led off the inning with back-to-back singles and advanced to scoring position after a Max Weinstein groundout. Gabe Gunter grounded out to bring home Casciola and Clarkcame around on a Warrior error. With two outs, Justin Caña came through with an RBI base hit to right field to bring the score to 6-3.
Westmont added a run in both the fourth and sixth innings to take an 8-3 lead and their starting pitcher Daniel Butler kept the Kingsmen bats silent. Butler picked up the win after allowing just four hits and one earned run over six innings. The Warriors bullpen was dominant as well, limiting CLU to just one hit over the last three innings.
Nate Wehner picked up the loss after allowing five earned runs over 4.2 innings and walking five with two strikeouts. Freshman Ryan Bill pitched a shutout inning in relief and Landry Kiyabu looked strong in his season debut throwing two scoreless innings.
At the plate, Casciola led the way going 2-for-5 with a run while Clark, Caña and Ramsey Abushahla each tallied a hit apiece.
For Westmont, Michael Pollex had a game-high three hits and Alika McGuire and Derek Rodigo each had two.
Cal Lutheran (0-2) will head out on the road for a three game slate in Grand Prairie, Texas, starting this Friday, Feb. 12 at 4:00 p.m. against Hendrix (Ark.).
Box Score: WC 8, CLU 3
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