The victory gives Cal Baptist a 1-0 lead in this best 2-of-3 series which continues with another game on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. with an "if-necessary" game to follow 30 minutes later.

In tonight's game, Azusa Pacific took a 4-2 lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. David Ayala's single to right scored Chris Ewing from second base with 1 out to break a 2-2 tie. Two batters later, Bobby Sanchez's liner to right scored Ayala to give the Cougars a 2-run cushion.

However, centerfield Scott Shepard led off the eighth inning with a solo blast to pull Cal Baptist to within a run at 4-3 and chase Cougar freshman pitcher Kelly Strickland, who was making only his second start since February. Freshman reliever B.J. Litchfield came out of the pen to retire 4 straight Lancers and put the Cougars within 2 outs of the victory. However, Litchfield then hit CBU catcher Kevin Johnstone in the leg with a pitch and then surrendered Kleveno's blast on a 3-1 offering. It was his fifth home run of the season.

Cal Baptist then turned the pitching over to Charlie Eckenrod, who retired the Cougars' No. 3-4-5 hitters in a row to preserve the win and pick up the save. Eckenrod got the GSAC's top hitter John Knott to line out to first to open the inning. He then struck out Justin Duarte, who leads the GSAC with 17 HRs this season. Eckenrod shut the door on the game when he got Karel Casto to line out to center field.