THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Freshman Ryan Kingma pitched seven strong innings and the Whitworth offense pounded out 14 hits for an 8-2 victory over Cal Lutheran in the season opener at Ullman Stadium on Friday afternoon.

In his collegiate debut, Kingma allowed just one unearned run and three hits to stifle the Kingsmen, who enter the season as the three-time defending Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions and ranked No. 22 by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Jacob Yamane, a transfer making his Pirate debut, finished a home run shy of the cycle and went 4 for 5 with three runs scored and one RBI to lead the Pirate offense.

Whitworth jumped to a 2-0 lead in the second inning after Yamane singled to begin the frame and advanced to third base with a pair of groundouts. A walk to Garrett Hughes put runners on the corners before a passed ball scored Yamane and moved Hughes into scoring position. Daniel Casanova then delivered a two-out single, his second hit of the game, to score Hughes before Cal Lutheran could escape the inning.

The Pirates extended the lead to 3-0 during the top of the sixth when Yamane scored on a fielder's choice by Nate Lamberty. Yamane had tripled to center field with one out in the frame to set up the opportunity.

Whitworth doubled its advantage an inning later, producing three runs on four hits in the seventh inning. Matthew Nelson and JT Phelan each delivered RBI doubles to highlight the frame.

The Kingsmen scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh to erase the shutout. David Casciola reached via an error and later scored by way of a two-out single from Weston Clark. The deficit was cut to 6-2 in the eighth inning when Justin Cana scored Chad Clark with a groundout. Clark had reached via an error to begin the inning and had advanced to third base on a second Pirate miscue in the frame.

The Pirates added two runs in the ninth inning by way of RBI doubles from Yamane and Hughes. Yamane scored JT Phelan, who had led off the inning with a double himself, before Hughes later came through with a two-out hit to plate Yamane.

Kingma (1-0)  did not allow a hit between the fourth and sixth innings and scattered the three hits allowed. He finished with two strikeouts and no walks. Hugh Smith fanned three batters in relief of Kingma during his collegiate debut, allowing only one hit and one unearned run in two innings of work.

Trey Saito (0-1) took the loss for Cal Lutheran. The Pirates faced five relievers in relief of Saito, who was pulled after 1 ⅔ innings.

Casanova finished 2 for 2 with one RBI before being replaced. Phelan (2-5, RBI, 2 runs) and Hughes (2-4, BB, RBI, run) also collected two hits apiece. Eight Pirates collected at least one hit in the game.

Whitworth continues its California trip with a three-game series at Whittier this weekend. The Pirates and Poets face off Saturday in a doubleheader set to begin at 11 a.m.