This Time, Cal Lutheran Sinks Chapman’s Blitstein

Good things usually happen to those who make adjustments, and Cal Lutheran made that work Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Division III West Regional baseball tournament.

The Kingsmen collected 15 hits en route to a 7-1 victory over top-seeded Chapman at McMurry University.

Fourth-seeded Cal Lutheran plays Southwestern at 9 a.m. (PDT) today in the double-elimination tournament.

Cal Lutheran (25-12) ended a five-game losing streak, its longest since 1995.

The Kingsmen led, 2-0, through five innings, and scored five runs in the sixth on seven hits.

Adam Springston (7-2) pitched a six-hitter for Cal Lutheran, striking out three and walking three.

Jeff Blitstein (12-4) of Chapman (29-12), who beat the Kingsmen, 3-1, on April 28, departed after the sixth inning.

The Kingsmen adjusted to Blitstein’s sinker by moving up in the batter’s box.

“I think if we had stayed with the same game plan, we would have lost again,” Cal Lutheran Coach Marty Slimak said. “[I knew] we’d better do something to change.”

The Kingsmen were retired in order only in the ninth, and nine of their hits came with two out.

“I feel like we’re seeing the ball real well right now,” said Clinton Britt of Cal Lutheran, who had a two-run double in the sixth and had two hits to break out of a two-for-21 slump. “It felt really good because [Blitstein] really dealt on us last time.”

Said Chapman Coach Rex Petersz: “We were real fortunate to get two wins against them during the season. They’re a good ballclub and they can swing the bats with the best of them.”

Cal Lutheran scored in the second on an RBI single by Jeremy Schlosser. Adam Rauch hit a run-scoring single in the third.

Britt, Anthony Olden, Brian Malchow, Donny Churchman and Rauch had consecutive hits with two out in the sixth.

Esteban Enriquez of Chapman hit an RBI double in the seventh.

The Panthers play McMurry today at 1 p.m., with the loser being eliminated.