The Warriors put together back-to-back five run innings, all scored with two outs, which included two-run home runs by junior Eric Gaustad and freshman catcher Luke Montzingo, but it wasn't enough to catch the Eagles of Biola (23-28, 15-14) who claimed a 16-11 win on Wednesday afternoon in La Mirada.
After scoring just one run in the first seven innings on three hits, Westmont (5-33, 3-26) bats exploded for eleven hits in the final two frames. Junior shortstop Anthony Martinez led off the eighth inning with a double to left center. Two strikeouts later, Gaustad sent the ball over the left centerfield fence. Second baseman Jason Younker, right fielder John Evans and Montzingo followed with three successive singles to load the bases, prompting head coach Scott Deck to send junior Cody Chapman to the plate as a pinch hitter for first baseman David Stout. Chapman picked up an RBI when he was hit by a pitch. Freshman left fielder Ryan Haddock then drove in two runs with a double to right center, resulting in a 13-6 score at the end of seven and one-half innings.
After the Eagles tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Westmont bats went back to work. Centerfielder Derek Fugitt reached first when he was hit by a pitch to start the inning. It looked like Fugitt might be left stranded at first when Philip Valle and Gaustad were retired on infield pop-ups. But Younker kept Warrior hopes alive when he singled to left, moving Fugitt to second. Evans drove in both Fugitt and Younker with a double to left center before Montzingo blasted the ball over the left field fence. Stout, who had re-entered the game at first base, continued the rally with a single to left and then reached second when Haddock singled through the right side. A walk to Martinez reloaded the bases and brought up Fugitt for his second at-bat of the inning. Again, Fugitt was hit by a pitch, but this time he earned an RBI in the process. Valle stepped to the plate and hit the ball sharply, but unfortunately right at the Eagles' second baseman who snagged the line drive for the final out.
Gaustad was assigned the loss after starting the game and pitching five and one-third innings. He gave up eleven runs on eleven hits, struck out six and walked four. Jamie Barth pitched the final two and two-thirds innings, surrendering five runs of four hits. Barth struck out five without allowing a walk.
Biola and Westmont will meet up again on Thursday, but change venues to Russ Carr Field on the Westmont campus. First pitch is at 3:00 p.m.
