THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - A four-run sixth inning propelled Cal Lutheran over Whitworth 6-4 in the first game despite a strong performance from pitcher Hunter Dryden, and an eight-run second inning and nine-run fifth inning from the Kingsmen buried the Pirates in the nightcap 18-5.

Whitworth falls to 1-2 on the season, and Cal Lutheran improves to 3-0.  The teams will complete a three-game series on Sunday.

Game one: Cal Lutheran 6, Whitworth 4
Whitworth scored first in the third inning when three consecutive walks set up a Gage Gibson triple that put the Pirates ahead 3-0. Colt Corrigan was walked later in the inning to tally four walks.

The Kingsmen tried to rally in the bottom of the third, when Nick Fusari reached base on an error. A Zach Lafata single and Austin Carillo reaching on an error loaded the bases, but a fly out and a looking strikeout from Hunter Dryden ended the inning with the runners stranded.

Whitworth added one more run in the fourth inning when a Dawson Warner groundout scored Riley Cissne.

Cal Lutheran got on the board in the fourth inning when Nolan Brooks hit a double, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on a Brendan Durfee sacrifice fly 4-1.

The Kingsmen surged in the sixth inning to take the lead. Dryden gave up a Zac Bullard single to start the inning and was replaced by Landon Shigeta. A walk, error, and hit by pitch back-to-back scored Bullard from third. Shigeta was replaced by Riley Whelan, who thew a wild pitch, scoring Brooks. Fusari hit a double that scored two runners to take a 5-4 lead. Whelan ended the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

Cal Lutheran tacked on one more run in the seventh inning when Nola grounded out to score Max Heverly and take a 6-4 lead.

Landon Shigeta (0-1) took the loss for the Pirates, allowing three runs and one walk in 0.1 inning of relief. Starting pitcher Hunter Dryden pitched five innings, allowing only two runs on five hits and struck out four batters.

Tristan Dupont (1-0) got the win for the Kingsmen, allowing one run on four hits and three strikeouts in 3.1 innings of relief. Matt Campo picked up a save, pitching a shutout ninth inning and striking out two batters.

The Pirates committed four errors in the game.

Game two: Cal Lutheran 18, Whitworth 5
Whitworth led 5-1 early in the game, but CLU got two big innings to blow the game open.

The Pirates got on the board in the first inning when Gibson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Morrison. JJ Fahnlander followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Jaxsen Sweum for a 2-0 lead.

The Kingsmen got a run back in the first inning when Heverly singled to score Lafata.

Whitworth scored three runs from errors in the top of the second inning. Jacob Doughty stole third and then scored on an error by the catcher. Jeremiah Kennell scored on a wild pitch, and Warner scored on an error by the pitcher to increase the lead to 5-1.

Cal Lutheran poured it on in the bottom of the second inning. A hit by pitch, single and passed ball loaded the bases, and Kyle Reuser scored on a wild pitch. Austin Carillo was also hit by a pitch in the inning. Starter Josh Grimes was pulled in favor of Joey Del Carlo, who walked Heverly to score Fusari. Bullard doubled and drove in three runs, tying the score at five. Nola doubled to score Bullard, and Nola scored on a Jalen Parks single after advancing to third on a passed ball. The score at the end of the inning was 9-5.

Neither team scored again until the fifth inning, when Lafata singled and scored Reuser. A walk and passed ball advanced the runners, and Heverly drove them in with a single to left center field. Jose Scalzo, who came in to pinch hit for Brooks, was hit by a pitch, and Andrews was replaced by Mason Greene with one out remaining in the inning. Heverly scored on a wild pitch, after advancing to third on a passed ball. Reuser singled up the middle to score Scalzo, and Parks scored on an error. Lafata was walked with the bases loaded to score Ethan Doshi, who pinch hit for Blandino. Heverly was hit by a pitch to score Ryan Farr, who pinch hit for Fusari. The score heading into the sixth inning was 18-5.

Josh Grimes (0-1) was the losing pitcher, giving up five runs and three hits in 1.1 innings.

Luke Weschler (1-0) got the win for the Kingsmen, pitching 2.2 scoreless innings in relief. He had five strikeouts and three walks.

Heverly ended the nightcap with five RBI, two hits, and two runs scored in three at bats.