The California Baptist University baseball team took on the University of Hawaii, Hilo, at home in a four-game series April 2-3, where the Lancers swept the Vulcans in each game.
The Lancers’ offensive ability was on display in the first two games during the double headers, despite a lineup that has been hit hard by injury.
The team came away from the four games scoring 39 total runs on 55 total hits, with only four of those coming from unearned scores.
The team’s second game proved to be the toughest in the series against Hawaii Hilo. The squad was able to come back in the bottom of the ninth inning after being down 8-6 to emerge victorious.
Key players in the pair of double headers were A.J. David, junior kinesiology major and first baseman; Antonio Chavarria, junior business administration major and infielder; Andy Crowley, senior criminal justice major and outfielder; and Nathan Antoun, senior kinesiology major and outfielder.
David’s performance in the second game was crucial leading to the win over Hawaii Hilo. In it, he went 4-for-5 and hit an important double to become the go-ahead run.
“I think the team and the coaching staff did a really great job of dealing with all the injuries,” David said. “I feel like the depth on our team is great and we are able to move people around and still be tough to beat.”
Stephen Lohr, sophomore psychology major and catcher, came in as a substitution in the later innings of the second game and was the walk-off hero the Lancers needed when he stepped to the plate with two outs and a man on second base in the bottom of the ninth.
“I embraced the moment and I just looked for a pitch I could handle and once I got it I hit it hard,” Lohr said. “When I saw the ball land, I just turned to the dugout and saw all my teammates running toward me and was extremely grateful that I could help the team get a win.”
The squad played well as a unit, even though a good portion of the baseball team was out on the disabled list.
“The thing I am most proud of is that we have got seven guys out on injuries so some guys that have not played are figuring it out and stepping up,” said Gary Adcock, head coach of the baseball team. “It’s a sign of good depth in the field.”
The Lancers’ defense was a big part of the series as well. Excluding the second game, they allowed only 13 runs on 33 hits overall.
Bryce Macy, freshman criminal justice major and catcher, had a huge impact from behind the plate, with 18 putouts from behind the dish throughout the series.
After a three-game series against Dixie State University on April 9-11, the Lancers have moved to an overall record of 23-15.
