SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - Cal Lutheran baseball hit the road for the first time this season on Wednesday afternoon and used a four-run eighth inning to provide the margin in a 12-8 victory over Westmont College. A late two-out rally capped off by two-run hits from K.C. Judge and Travis Dadigian completed the come-from-behind win.

After continuous rallies brought the Kingsmen even with the Warriors 8-8 in the top of the seventh inning, CLU reliever Ian Durham shut down a potent Westmont offense over the final three innings striking out six Warriors. Meanwhile with two outs in the eighth inning five straight Kingsmen reached base safely including four base hits.

In total Cal Lutheran hit 10-for-18 (.556) with 11 runs batted in with two outs in steadily putting pressure on the opposition.

Following a scoreless first inning at least one Warrior crossed home plate in each of the ensuing five innings. Cal Lutheran would play from behind throughout the game starting with a three-run hole after Westmont's Evan Wadginski ended the Warriors second with a two-run single.

Opportunistic hitting and quick responses kept the Kingsmen within a reasonable margin. Facing its first deficit in the top of the third inning Paul Hartmann's two-out, two-run homer to left would start the first of many final out rallies for CLU. Richard Michelin tied the game 3-3 with his second base hit of a 4-for-4, two-RBI day with a run scoring double.

Tim Leary, who went 4-for-4 including three extra base hits regained the lead for the Warriors following a third inning solo shot. Westmont took advantage of two free base runners via base on balls and a hit batsman who later scored in the fourth providing a 6-3 margin.

From then on the CLU offense posted runs in each of its next four team at bats chipping away at the deficit. In total the Kingsmen used seven extra base hits, eight stolen bases and 10 free passes (nine walks, one hit batter) in staying close to the Warriors.

Chris Hertz's seventh inning RBI-single tied the game 8-8 and the Kingsmen called upon relief pitcher Ian Durham to hold the game even.

Durham entered a tie ballgame and facing an offense that had scored in five straight innings. The junior went on to shut out the Warriors over the final three innings allowing only one hit and struck out six batters in the process.

In the eighth Jordan Ott, Hartmann, Judge, Michelin and Dadigian all reached base consecutively with a pair of two-run doubles providing a 12-8 lead.

After Westmont loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the ninth, Durham struck out the side in order from then on to secure the win.

Cal Lutheran (3-0) will host its alumni exhibition game on Saturday, Feb. 6 before heading to the Arizona Desert Classic in Anthem, Ariz. where they will open up a four games in four days schedule against George Fox (OR) on February 11 at 10 a.m.