Box Score LA JOLLA – It takes two to make a thing go ri-ight. Two more wins would make things outta site for the Chico State baseball team. Marcos Lara utilized a trio of double plays to key seven shutout innings as the Wildcats beat California Baptist 2-0 in the second round of the NCAA Championship Tournament West Regional Friday night at Triton Ballpark on the campus of UC San Diego.
 Connor Huesers provided the icing on the bunt cake for the Wildcats. He laid down a sacrifice bunt after Tyler Madrid opened the fifth with a single and got much more. Lancers' third baseman Blair Moore threw the ball wildly past first, allowing Madrid to move to third while Huesers headed to second.
 
Danny Miller, Thursday's hero, followed with a productive at-bat, grounding out to 2^nd to plate Madrid and move Huesers to third. Cody Slader pounded a chopper off the hardpan in front of home plate and over the drawn-in first baseman to score Huesers for the 2-0 lead that the 9^th-ranked 'Cats made last.
 
"It's just applying pressure. That's what we do," explained Head Coach Dave Taylor. "There's a reason why we've won 41 games. We execute and play defense. It's the little things that these guys have bought into that have allowed us to be here."
 
Chico State (41-13) will take on UC San Diego for a trip to the title game Saturday at 11 a.m. The winner will be one win away from a West Region title with two chances to get it if needed.
 
California Baptist (38-14), ranked No. 16 in the nation, will face Dixie State in an elimination game Saturday at 3 p.m. The winner of that game will play the Chico State-UC San Diego loser at 7 p.m. for the right to play for the title.
 
Lara (9-3) scattered six hits in his seven innings of work. He struck out four and walked one against the Lancer's left-handed heavy lineup. Robert Hook needed only eight pitches for a scoreless eighth. Luke Barker closed it out with his school-record 16^th save, getting two groundouts to second and a game-ending strikeout.
 Lara matched California Baptist starter Adam Hofacket zero for zero through the first four frames before the Wildcats broke through in the fifth.
 
He got a 4-6-3 double play to get out of trouble in the third and another twin-killing after a leadoff walk in the fifth.
 
"We talk about double plays all the time. We expect to get at least one a game," said Slader. "If we don't we go back to the hotel or back to our apartments upset."
 
Taylor showed faith in his senior when he left him in the game with two on and one out in the seventh. He responded with an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play on his final pitch of the night.
 
"Marcus did his thing," said Taylor. "He did a nice job of attacking the strike zone."
 
Eric Angerer and Madrid had two hits apiece for the Wildcats. Slader's RBI-single was the Wildcats' only other hit of the night and extended his hitting streak to six games.
 
Saturday's pitching matchup will pit Chico State's Brad Lohse (8-0, 1.46 ERA) against UC San Diego ace Justin Donatella (8-2, 2.35 ERA).