SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The CUI baseball team continues its run in the PacWest tournament with two impressive wins showcasing a balanced effort of explosive offense and strong pitching in both performances. The Golden Eagles defeated host Westmont in the morning before taking down Fresno Pacific in the afternoon to advance to the championship and final day of the tournament. Across the two contests CUI combined for 23 hits and 25 runs while limiting its opponents to just three runs.
Game 1: CUI 12, Westmont 3
CUI wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning.
Wyatt Madison drew an RBI walk to bring home
Isaiah Walz for the games opening run. Moments later
Nicolas Erickson lifted a sacrifice fly to center field that scored
Ian Stewart and extended the lead to 2-0.
Nolan Caira followed with an RBI single to third base plating
Dylan Knowles and capping a three run opening frame.
Concordia continued to build momentum in the second inning when
Landry Spitler launched a solo home run to left field pushing the advantage to 4-0.
CUI added another big inning in the fourth. Erickson delivered an RBI single through the right side to score Spitler before
David Baruch III worked a bases-loaded walk that brought home Stewart. Caira then came through again with a two run single up the middle extending the lead to 8-0 and giving the Green and Gold firm control of the contest.
Westmont scored three in the seventh inning but CUI quickly answered in the eighth inning with one of the game's biggest moments. Erickson crushed a three run homer while restoring the Golden Eagles commanding lead at 11-3. CUI added one final run in the ninth when Knowles reached on an error that allowed Spitler to score closing out the 12-3 victory.
Junior Madison delivered a dominant performance on the mound for CUI earning the win after throwing seven strong innings while allowing just two hits and three earned runs. Madison struck out a season-high 13 batters and consistently controlled the pace of the game limiting the Warriors offensive opportunities.
Jayden Daya followed with a scoreless eighth inning surrendering no hits and
Riley Ricken closed the game with a clean ninth inning.
VIDEO - CLICK HERE for postgame interviews with CUI's Spitler, Erickson, Madison & Coach Fahey
Game 2: CUI 13, FPU 3
Coming off the first game the Golden Eagles continued their momentum into the second game of the day. Concordia broke open a close game with a dominant middle innings surge to defeat Fresno Pacific 13-3.
Shane Timmons started on the bump and turned in another strong outing for CUI earning his tenth win of the season after pitching 7.2 innings. The freshman allowed just two earned runs on seven hits while striking out seven batters. He kept the Sunbirds from generating sustained momentum throughout the afternoon balancing seven fly outs and seven ground outs.
The Sunbirds struck first in the second inning with a solo home run down the right-field line to take an early lead.
CUI responded in the fourth inning with a three run rally to take control. Erickson tied the game with an RBI ground out and moments later Baruch III lined a two run double down the left field line to score Madison.
Sawyer Voortman added another run with an RBI fielder's choice to give the Golden Eagles a 3-1 lead.
Spitler crushed a grand slam to right field to extend the lead to 7-1 in another explosive inning. Just a few batters later
Ian Stewart added to the momentum with a solo home run to right center field scoring another insurance run.
The Golden Eagles continued to pour on offense in the seventh inning when Madison connected on a solo homer to right field. Voortman followed with an RBI double and now stretching the lead by nine. Three more runs were added in the eighth inning. Erickson collected another RBI with a ground out while a wild pitch allowed Stewart to cross the plate. Knowles later scored on a balk to cap the inning and make it 13-1.
Fresno Pacific managed two late runs but the deficit proved too large to overcome as reliever
Alessandro Martinez closed out the game going 1.1 innings only allowing two hits and one run while striking out three.
VIDEO - CLICK HERE for postgame interviews with CUI's Baruch, Stewart & Timmons & Coach Turgeon
CUI will take on Point Loma Friday Mar. 8 for the PacWest Championship title. The first pitch will be at 11 a.m. and if a second game is necessary it will be begin around 2:30 p.m.
CLICK HERE to see the PacWest Tournament Central Page
CLICK HERE to see the full CUI Baseball Schedule
