Junior shortstop Robert De Leon delivered a double and a homerun to help power Westmont Baseball (3-7, 3-6) to a Golden State Athletic Conference win over The Master's (12-3, 5-3) on Wednesday in Santa Clarita. The Warriors put up two runs in the first and five in the fourth to give starter Erik Gaustad his first win of the year (1-0). Westmont produced 11 hits in the nine inning game while playing errorless ball.
De Leon got things rolling for Westmont in the top of the first inning when he was hit by a pitch with two outs. Junior first baseman Mark Boujikian moved De Leon over to second on a single through the left side. Westmont loaded the bases when junior right fielder Taylor Grace reached on an error by the Mustang's third baseman. Freshman centerfielder Taylor Maddox stepped to the plate and delivered a two-RBI single into left to put Westmont up 2-0.
Westmont sent ten men to the plate in the fourth inning and five crossed the plate. Third baseman Jordan Bottenfield singled up the middle to start the inning. Sophomore catcher Luke Montzingo reached on an error and Bottenfield moved to third. Junior left fielder Derek Fugitt was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out and the top of the order coming to the plate.
Senior designated hitter Cody Chapman recorded on a two-RBI single up the middle which moved Fugitt to third base. Fugitt then scored and Chapman moved to second when a pick off attempt by the Mustangs went awry. Senior second baseman Anthony Martinez drove Chapman home on another single up the middle, becoming the fifth batter in a row to reach base safely. Martinez became the first out when he attempted to steal second base which was unfortunate because De Leon stepped to the plate next and sent the ball over the fence for a solo homerun.
Meanwhile, Gaustad was producing a solid performance on the mound, allowing just one base runner in the first three innings, and that on a walk. The Mustangs would rough up Gaustad a bit in the fourth inning and produce two runs, but the senior right-hander responded by pitching two and two-thirds more scoreless innings.
The Mustangs picked up two more runs in the eighth inning after right-handed freshman reliever Keith Johnson gave up a single and a double to lead off the inning. Sophomore right-hander Timothy Crabbe appeared in a closer role in the ninth and picked up the save, his first of the season.
Saturday, Westmont travels south to continue GSAC play with a doubleheader against San Diego Christian. The games will be played at Stars Field in Lakeside with first pitch scheduled for 11:00 a.m.
