Junior pitcher Jonathan White went the distance, but the Warriors couldn't generate enough offense at the plate as Westmont Baseball (1-2) lost their home opener to Bethany (3-4) by a score of 3-2. White held the Bruins to three runs, two earned, while giving up seven hits. He struck out four and allowed three walks.
"John White threw a great game," said head coach Scott Deck. "We left some runners on base when we were one hit away from breaking it open. That is frustrating, but we will learn from it. We have to produce more at the plate and help our pitchers out. Our pitchers are doing a great job right now."
The Warriors allowed an unearned run in the top of the first inning. After Frankie Paletta, the Bruins shortstop grounded out to second to start the inning, catcher Justin Burger smashed a blazing line drive single past third baseman Andy Dude to give Bethany their first base runner. White picked off Burger, the first of two times he caught a Bruin napping at first base, but center fielder J.P. LaPointe singled just to the left of second base and then stole second to give the Bruins a runner in scoring position with two away.
Right fielder Dave Raichart, batting clean up, squeaked a ground ball past Jason Younker at second which was bobbled by right fielder Dave Stout, allowing LaPointe to score. White got first baseman Doug McGee to fly out to left field to end the inning.
"We made a few errors that put us behind," said Deck. "Defensively we don't make a lot of errors. That is usually not our character from what I've seen of this team."
Westmont had a chance for a big inning in the bottom of the first, but couldn't push any runs across the plate. A walk by left fielder Ryan Haddock followed by base hits to left by first baseman Eric Gaustad and White, gave the Warriors bases loaded with one out. But a strike out and fly out to center field ended the Warrior threat.
Bethany scored twice in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Burger walked on a full count. LaPointe, followed with a towering homerun to left field that cleared the fence by 20 feet just inside the foul pole.
Westmont's runs came in the bottom of the fifth inning which third baseman Andy Dude started off with a single. Shortstop Anthony Martinez walked, advancing Dude to second. Haddock then stepped to the plate and laid a beautiful bunt down the third base line. The Bruins third baseman attempted to throw out Haddock at first. Not only was the throw late, but it was also off target and skipped past McGee. Martinez scored on the throwing error while Dude and Haddock advanced to third and second respectively. Dude scored on a sacrifice fly to right field by Gaustad, the first out of the inning, as Haddock advanced to third. But White flew out to shallow left and Stout struck out to end the inning before Haddock could reach the plate.
"Hopefully we will learn from this game, make some adjustments, then come back and beat them next time," said Deck.
Mark Koski took the complete game win for the Bruins allowing two runs, one earned, on six hits. He struck out seven and walked three.
The Warriors will begin Golden State Athletic Conference play on Saturday when the will travel to San Diego to take on #20 Point Loma Nazarene (4-0) in a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.
