LOS ANGELES — Occidental College endured a challenging matchup at Anderson Field, falling to California Lutheran University in both games of a doubleheader with a final score of 17-3 in game one and 11-9 in game two on Saturday.
In game one, Occidental managed five hits, including a home run, but could not overcome the Kingsmen's 14-hit, 17-run performance.
Cal Lutheran took an early lead in the first inning when Daniel Orozco singled through the right side, driving in Wes Lynch, who had doubled, for the game's first run. The Kingsmen would score one run in the 3rd and 4th innings before breaking through with a four-run 5th inning to lead 7-0.
Occidental got on the board in the fifth inning as
Griffen Rogers scored on an
Evann Smith double to right center. This brought the score to 7-1 in favor of Cal Lutheran at the end of the fifth inning.
The Kingsmen would add on five runs in their half of the sixth inning, but the bottom half of the sixth was highlighted by Occidental's
Tyler Kubo's two-run home run to right field, scoring
Benjamin Fitzgerald. This cut the deficit to 12-3 by the end of the sixth inning.
Cal Lutheran added five more runs in the seventh inning, capitalizing on a throwing error and a bases-clearing double by Philip Jeong. The final score was 17-3 after 7 innings.
In game two of the doubleheader, the Tigers fell short in a high-scoring contest, losing 11-9.
The Tigers' offense produced nine runs on 10 hits, but it was not enough to overcome the Kingsmen's 19-hit performance.
Cal Lutheran started strong in the first inning with Wes Lynch singling to second base and advancing on Daniel Orozco's double. Lucas Danielewicz brought in the first run with a sacrifice fly, and Philip Jeong added another with a single, giving the Kingsmen an early 2-0 lead.
Occidental responded in the second inning.
Benjamin Fitzgerald singled and advanced on an error before
Logan Rooney doubled to score two runs.
Antonio Longobardi's sacrifice bunt moved Rooney to third, and he scored on an
Anthony Sereno groundout. This inning put the Tigers ahead, 3-2.
In the third inning, Jacob Blickenderfer's two-run homer for Cal Lutheran tied the score, but Occidental quickly regained the lead.
Jackson Short singled, advanced on a wild pitch, and scored on a walk that loaded the bases. Fitzgerald and
Tyler Kubo each advanced, with Fitzgerald scoring on Rooney's RBI walk. A sacrifice fly by
Griffen Rogers added another run, putting the Tigers up 6-4.
Cal Lutheran surged in the fourth with a three-run homer by Orozco, retaking the lead at 7-6. They extended this lead in the fifth with three runs, including two RBIs from Orozco, making it 10-6.
Occidental narrowed the gap in the sixth inning after
Evann Smith was hit by a pitch, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, and scored on Fitzgerald's single, bringing the score to 10-7.
In the seventh, the Kingsmen added another run, but Occidental struck back in the eighth. Smith doubled, advanced on a groundout, and scored on Fitzgerald's RBI double. Rooney then singled to bring in Fitzgerald, closing the deficit to 11-9.
The ninth inning saw no further scoring from either team, ending the game with Cal Lutheran winning 11-9 and taking the three-game series 2-1.
Occidental is now 16-6 overall and 5-4 in the SCIAC while the Kingsmen are 17-5 and 5-1 in the SCIAC. The Tigers will be back in action on Friday, March 27th for game one of a three-game set against Whitman College at Anderson Field. First pitch is set for 3:00pm.
