After falling 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader at Pomona-Pitzer, Westmont Baseball claimed the second game by a 6-5 score to post a 1-1 season record after the first weekend of play. Freshman Timothy Crabbe picked up the win in his first collegiate start after allowing four runs in four and one-half innings of play in the seven inning game.
Centerfielder Jonathan White tied a school record by connecting for three doubles in a three for three performance at the plate. In addition to three runs batted, White also scored once and laid down a sacrifice bunt in the fourth inning.
In the first game, White pitched six and one-third innings, allowing two runs while striking out six and giving up only one walk. The Sagehens scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning which proved to be the only runs to cross the plate. After coaxing designated hitter Clay Leonard to ground out to short, shortstop Brandon Huerta was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch. White then walked left fielder Zachery Mandelblatt and advanced Huerta to second. First baseman Drew Hedman grounded out to first, pushing Huerta and Mandelblatt to third and second respectively. Right fielder Michael Joannides picked up a two-run bloop double down the left field line to score Huerta and Mandelblatt.
The Warriors best chance to score came in the top of the fifth inning when sophomore catcher Nate Dreesmann hit a one-out single into left field and senior third baseman Andy Dude followed with a single to right field which advanced Dreesmann to second. But the Warriors were unable to bring the runners home.
Junior first baseman Eric Gaustad was two for four at the plate in the first game of the day while freshman second baseman Jason Younker was two for three. Junior Brandon Downs closed out the game for the Warriors on the mound, pitching one and two-thirds scoreless innings while giving up just one hit and striking out two.
In the second game, Pomona-Pitzer claimed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Three straight walks loaded the bases with two outs for the Sagehens before second baseman James Kang connected for a single to right field to drive in one run. But Pomona-Pitzer stranded three men when right fielder Eliot Chang popped out to third.
Westmont responded in the top of the second inning with two runs to take the lead. Freshman left fielder Ryan Haddock recorded a one-out single and then advanced to second on a ground out to the pitcher by second baseman Philip Valle. White then connected for his first double of the game, scoring Haddock. Dude picked up an RBI when he singled to right to score White.
After giving up a run in the bottom of the second inning, the Warriors scored in the top of the third to recapture the lead (3-2). Dreesmann led off the inning with a single to right and Gaustad followed with the same to advance Dreesmann to second. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore right fielder David Stout advanced the runners to second and third with one away. Younker, serving as designated hitter in game two, knocked in Dreesmann with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
In the top of the fifth inning, the Warriors padded their lead with two unearned runs. Stout and Younker both reached on errors and Haddock laid down a sacrifice bunt, advancing the runners. Valle walked to load the bases before White doubled for the second time to score both Stout and Younker.
Pomona-Pitzer narrowed the game to just one run by scoring twice in the bottom of the fifth on three base hits and a walk. After Crabbe gave up a hit and a walk, senior Jamie Barth was called to the mound to relieve Crabbe. But Barth picked up one out on a ground out to second, but could not keep two Sagehens from scoring. Sophomore Kellen Skersies was called in to get the final out of the inning which he accomplished by striking out the first batter he faced. Skersies also pitched the sixth inning, striking out three batters in a row after hitting the first with a pitch.
Westmont added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Haddock walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch while Valle was at the plate. Valle brought Haddock home with a single to left.
In the bottom of the second inning, Downs was called in to close out the game. After hitting the first batter (Kang) with a pitch, downs gave up a single to (Chang) to give the Sagehens runners on first and second with no one out. Downs convinced third baseman Ben Ginsberg to ground to second, but Kang and Chang advanced to third and second bases respectively. After left fielder Andrew Nino walked to load the bases, Down found himself facing the top of the Sagehen order. Leonard hit a sacrifice to left field which scored Kang and allowed the other two runners to move up one base. Huerta was then intentionally walked, reloading the bases with two away. But Downs picked up a save and recorded a Warrior victory by getting Mandelblatt to ground to second base.
Westmont will return to action on Tuesday, February 6 as they host Bethany in the Warrior's home opener. First pitch is at 2:00 p.m.
