Westmont Baseball (1-6, 0-4) posted an 8-3 lead in the fifth inning of the first game ever played against the Hawks of San Diego Christian (6-2, 3-1), but the Warriors couldn't hold on and lost the first game of the doubleheader at Russ Carr Field by a score of 18-8. San Diego Christian also won the second game, defeating Westmont 11-2.

The Hawks scored one run each in the third and fourth innings of game one to post a 2-0 lead over the Warriors. But Westmont scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to even the game. Junior right fielder Eric Gaustad led off the fourth with a double down the left field line. Head coach Scott Deck sent sophomore David Stout into the game to pinch hit, but Stout grounded out to third for the innings first out.

That brought up junior pitcher Jon White who singled to right and advanced Gaustad to third base. Junior short stop Anthony Martinez followed White to the plate, but struck out recording the Warriors' second out. Sophomore catcher Nate Dressmann was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and bring up senior third baseman Andy Dude. Dude was also hit by a pitch, forcing in Gaustad and bring up freshman designated hitter Ryan Haddock. Haddock lineup out to first base to end the inning, but not before a wild pitch allowed White to score from third base.

A lead off double in the top of the fifth led to a brief 3-2 lead by the Hawks. In the bottom of the inning, Westmont pushed across six runs with two outs to take an 8-3 lead. Junior left fielder John Evans led off the inning with a walk and reached second on a sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Phillip Valle. Gaustad struck out, leaving Evans on second with two away. Stout, who had remained in the game to play first base, singled to advance Evans to third and White walked to load the bases.

That brought up Martinez who singled to score both Evans and Stout. White and Martinez moved up one base on the throw to the plate, giving Westmont men on second and third. Dressmann picked up two RBIs on a single to center and then scored when Dude doubled down the right field line.

Dude's double drove Matt Lune, the Hawks starting pitcher, from the game, but his replacement, Clint Priesendorfer, walked the first three batters he faced to allow Dude to cross the plate. Gaustad then struck out to end the inning.

On the mound, White gave up another run in the top of the sixth and three in the top of the seventh as the Hawks narrowed the margin to one (8-7). After retiring the first two batters in the top of the eighth inning, White issued a free pass to San Diego Christian's Sean West. Deck went to the pen and brought in sophomore pitcher Kellen Skersies in relief. Skersies, who took the loss, faced three batters, giving up two singles and a triple. Skersies was replaced by freshman Timothy Crabbe who gave up a single and a double before retiring the Hawks' left fielder Danny Flannery who fouled out to third for the final out. With five runs in the inning, San Diego Christian posted a 12-9 lead.

In the ninth inning, the Hawks scored six more runs, four of which came off of a grand slam by first baseman Brandon Rauch.

White pitched seven and two-thirds innings giving up eight runs on 12 hits. He struck out seven and walked four. Priesendorfer, who pitched two and one-thirds innings, was awarded the win. He gave up only one hit without allowing a run.

Gaustad made his first career start as a pitcher in the second game. In the first three innings he faced 10 batters, allowing no runs and only two hits. However, San Diego Christian scored four runs in the top of the fourth on five runs and a walk to post a 4-0 lead.

The Warriors were able to recapture two runs in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out single by freshman first baseman Jason Younker. But that would be the extent of the Warriors scoring as they were held to two runs on two hits by the Hawks' Garrett Russell who picked up the win. Russell pitched five innings before giving way to Lance Janke who closed out the seven-inning game without allowing a hit. Meanwhile, the Hawks added two in the fifth, three in the third and two in the seventh to account for the final 11-2 score.

Westmont will be back in action Saturday as they host #11 Concordia in a doubleheader at Russ Carr Field. First pitch is at 11:00 a.m.