Seven Warrior pitchers combined to hold the UC Santa Barbara (15-7) to six runs on five hits on Tuesday at Caesar Uyesaka but Westmont (7-15) lost to the Gauchos by a score of 6-3. Senior Jonathan White started for the Warriors, giving up one run on one hit in two innings of work. White (0-3), who was charged with the loss, struck out two and allowed one walk. The Gauchos' Michael Martin (2-0) picked up the win.
The Gauchos scored a single run in the first inning off an RBI double by junior first baseman Eric Oliver. Oliver would also figure into the Gauchos' run in the sixth inning, scoring from third on a sacrifice fly to left by junior shortstop Shane Carlson.
Jonathan Sakoda, Keith Johnson and John Evan gave Westmont one inning each of work on the mound, allowing just one hit collectively while holding the Gauchos scoreless in the third, fourth and fifth inning. The trio produced two strikeouts and allowed one walk.
After UCSB freshman reliever Forest Cannon struck out the side in order in the top of the seventh, the Gauchos scored four runs (two of which were earned) in their half of the inning off of senior reliever Brandon Downs. As a result, the Warriors faced a 6-0 deficit heading into the top of the eighth inning.
Junior right-hander Jason Roenicke took over on the mound for Cannon and duplicated Cannon's performance in the top of the eighth. Westmont's Max Gutierrez retired the Gauchos in order in the bottom of the eighth, sending the game into the ninth inning.
Kyle Noe, Westmont's freshman catcher, led off the top of the ninth with a single to center field. Freshman Brent Meschuk, who had taken over duties in right field from freshman Terrell Wong, reached on a fielder's choice after grounding to short. Meschuk moved to second when freshman center fielder Taylor Maddox was walked by right-handed reliever Zachary Samuels.
That brought up senior shortstop Anthony Martinez who delivered an RBI single to left field to score Meschuk and advance Maddox to third base. Samuels then hit senior designated hitter Cody Chapman with a pitch to load the bases with one away.
Maddox was thrown out at the plate when junior second baseman Mark Boujikian tapped the ball back to the pitcher but the bases remained loaded for the Warriors. Freshman first baseman Colten Christianson then stepped to the plate and singled to center field to score both Chapman and Martinez. Both the Warrior rally and the game ended when freshman left fielder Charles Whitman grounded out to first.
Westmont will host #23 Biola (18-8, 10-7) on Thursday in a 2:30 p.m. game at Russ Carr field, and then welcome Concordia (10-10, 8-9) to the Westmont campus on Saturday for an eleven o'clock doubleheader.
