COLLEGE BASEBALL ROUNDUP : Free-Swinging Cal Lutheran Opens Season With a Bang

Eddie Lample led a 15-hit attack with two doubles and a single, and Jeff Berman struck out five batters in three no-hit innings of relief as Cal Lutheran opened its season with an 11-3 nonconference victory over host Christ College of Irvine on Saturday.

Cal Lutheran, the 1992 NCAA Division III runner-up, overcame a 2-0 second-inning deficit with an impressive hitting exhibition. Eric Johnson had a double and two singles and teammates Lupe Carillo (three runs batted in), Gabe Diaz (two RBIs) and Jason Wilson each collected two hits.

Berman, the second of four CLU pitchers, walked only one in his stint and picked up the win.

The Master’s 17, Westmont 9--The Mustangs scored nine runs in the third inning en route to a comfortable NAIA District 3 win in Montecito.

Kevin Claytor was two for two with three RBIs, including a solo home run in the second. Teammates Jayme Riggio and Tony MacCaughtry each added three hits as The Master’s (5-1, 2-0 in district play) totaled 20 hits.

Mission 14, Ventura 7--Richard Avalos and Robert Garcia paced the Free Spirit to its eighth consecutive win with three hits each in a nonconference game at Ventura.

Marlon McKinney added two hits and four RBIs for Mission, which took advantage of five Ventura errors. The Pirates also left 12 men on base.

Chris Mace had four hits and two RBIs, Ryan Denger had three hits and Jose Gastelum added two for Ventura (2-1).

Mission is 8-1.

Canyons 9, Cerritos 2--Pitcher R.J. Simone worked eight innings, striking out five and walking none, to record his first victory of the season.

Simone allowed 10 hits, but Cerritos (3-4) stranded 13 runners, including three in the ninth inning.

Canyons’ John Aguilar had two hits, including a solo homer in the second inning to tie the score, 1-1.

R.J. Fenolio and John Davis each added two hits for Canyons (3-2).

Oxnard 11, Cabrillo 3--Ralph Guillen went two for four with a grand slam, Laurence Cottrell hit a two-run homer and Adrian Estrada had three hits as Oxnard (2-3) advanced to the championship game of the Hancock tournament.

Oxnard opened the day with a 7-6, 11-inning victory over Cabrillo (1-4) in a completion of Friday’s suspended game. Rich Tepezano drove in Cottrell with a two-out single to win that game.

Oxnard then dropped a 9-0 decision to Hancock to fall into the losers’ bracket, but a second win over Cabrillo moved the Condors in today’s tournament final against Hancock (4-0 on the season).