THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The offensive fireworks continued at George "Sparky" Anderson Field on Saturday, as the Cal Lutheran baseball team completed an overpowering weekend with a doubleheader sweep of Pacific Lutheran University.
The Kingsmen won 9-6 in the opener before erupting for a 13-3 victory in a shortened game two, leaving little doubt in securing the series with 45 runs scored across the three-game set.
GAME ONE: CAL LUTHERAN 9, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 6
The Purple & Gold wasted no time jumping in front in the morning contest, plating five runs in the bottom of the first. RBI singles from
Daniel Orozco and
Lucas Danielewicz set the tone before
Wyatt Crosby ripped a two-run double down the right-field line.
Troy Anderson capped the frame with his first RBI of the day to make it 5-0.
After PLU answered with a three-run homer in the second to tighten the game, the Kingsmen responded again in the third. Danielewicz launched a two-run homer to left, and
Landen Adair and
Eric Gonzalez followed with RBI singles to stretch the lead to 9-3.
Danielewicz finished 3-for-5 with three RBIs, while Crosby drove in two. Danielewicz and Orozco each scored twice as Cal Lu tallied 11 hits in the win.
On the mound,
Oscar Lopez earned the victory with five innings of work, allowing three runs on three hits. The bullpen locked it down from there as
Caleb Wilson delivered two scoreless frames, and
Ryan Jung shut the door in the ninth to record his first collegiate save.
GAME TWO: CAL LUTHERAN 13, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 3 (7 INN.)
The afternoon matchup followed a similar script with early punches followed by a knockout blow.
After falling behind 1-0 in the first, the Kingsmen answered immediately as Anderson lined a two-run single through the right side to grab the lead. The Lutes briefly tied it in the second, but Orozco crushed a two-run homer in the third to put CLU back in front for good.
The deciding inning came in the sixth when the Kingsmen erupted for seven runs on six hits.
Brady Werther and Orozco delivered RBI singles before Anderson connected on the first grand slam of his career, a shot to left-center that broke the game open.
Jona Dawson followed by going back-to-back with his first career home run, pushing the margin to 13-3 and into run-rule territory.
Anderson drove in six runs in the nightcap, finishing 2-for-4 with the home run and a two-run single. Orozco went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored, while
Kai Caranto reached base three times and crossed the plate each time.
Justin Gottlieb picked up the win, tossing five innings and allowing just two earned runs.
Colten Hanson and
Matt Campo combined for two scoreless innings to close out the victory.
UP NEXT
Cal Lutheran has now won five straight and will carry its momentum into SCIAC play next weekend, traveling to Caltech on Friday, February 20. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Pasadena.
