The Warriors gave second rated and undefeated California Baptist a run for their money, but lost the second game of a doubleheader to the Lancers by a score of 10-7 after dropping the first 9-2. Westmont senior catcher Dominick Paluso hit two-run home runs in both the first and fifth innings of the second game to record a two-for-three performance at the plate and record four RBIs.
Sophomore John White started at pitcher for the Warriors and worked five and one-third innings.
"When we have White on the hill, we feel confident even against an undefeated team," said head coach Rob Crawford. "We took the lead and thought, ‘this is it.' We produced well. We didn't have a lot of hits, but we took advantage of the walks. We moved guys over, manufactured three runs and executed well."
After the Lancers scored a run in the top of the second, sophomore center fielder Vinny Lopez reached on a walk to lead off the bottom of the first for the Warriors. Lopez advanced to third on successive swinging bunts by freshman second baseman Nate Shaver and sophomore first baseman Erik Gaustad. Paluso then stepped to the plate and blasted a 2-0 pitch over the left field fence to put Westmont ahead 2-1.
Sophomore shortstop Phillip Valle led off the bottom of the second with a walk and was sacrificed to second by senior right fielder Darren Fouret. Valle stole third during an at bat by sophomore third baseman Anthony Martinez who received the second free pass of the inning. The Warriors then executed a squeeze play with sophomore pitcher John White bunting the ball to the right of the pitcher's mound to score Valle from third.
The Lancer's claimed three runs in the top of the fourth. Designated hitter Robert Lundy was followed by catcher Josh Banda who drove the ball for a home run to left. After White struck out first baseman Kevin Wright, left fielder Jordan Monroe hit the ball back up the middle for a single. Monroe reached third on a double by third baseman Steve Sanchez and then scored after tagging up on a line drive out to left field by third baseman Steve Goins.
Westmont added two more in the bottom of the fourth inning. Fouret received a one out walk from Goins who had moved over to pitch. After Goins walked Martinez, White moved both runners over with a tapper to the mound. That brought up Lopez who poked the ball into right center field. Fouret scored easily from third and Martinez slid safely under Banda's tag to pick up the second run of the inning.
After a scoreless top half of the fifth, Gaustad rapped a one-out single to left field and was replaced by pinch runner Derek Fugitt at first. That brought up Paluso how pounded his second homer over the left field fence to give the Warriors a 7-4 lead.
Things began to unravel for Westmont in the top of the sixth. After coaxing Monroe to ground out to third, White gave up a single to Sanchez and then walked Goins. That brought second baseman Gabe Mayorga to the plate and he connected for an RBI double to left center.
Head coach Rob Crawford then replaced White on the mound with senior pitcher Jake Stretz, but Stretz gave up a two-RBI double to center fielder Mike Swain, tying the game at seven each. Swain later scored on a single through the right side by Lundy to put the Lancers on top 8-7.
Westmont could not muster any more runs, but the Lancers added two more in the top of the seventh inning to complete the scoring.
"The effort [by the Warriors] was amazing," said Crawford. "John White was battling against a really good hitting team when he gets in a position where he has thrown too many pitches. Unfortunately our bullpen is not that deep and we have used a lot of guys in the games on Wednesday, Thursday and today, so nobody is really fresh any more. But every guy battled and gave it 110%."
Stretz (0-1) took the loss for the Warriors while Goins (3-0) picked up the Lancers' win.
"We just played two of the toughest teams in the conference back to back," said Crawford. "Now we just need to get back on track and see what happens." Westmont spent Wednesday and Thursday battling #3 Biola before hosting #2 California Baptist today.
The Warriors' next chance to get back on track will be on Wednesday and Thursday against Vanguard (6-9, 2-6). Wednesday's game is at home at 2:30 p.m. at Russ Carr Field. Thursday's game is at Vanguard. Next Saturday, the Warriors will travel to The Master's (5-12, 1-9) for a doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m.
