In the final baseball games played at Russ Carr Field before major renovation begins this fall, Westmont (9-33, 8-30) split a doubleheader with Vanguard (17-30, 8-27), taking the second game 4-1 after falling in the first 7-5. Senior pitcher Brandon Downs earned the win for Westmont in game two, pitching six innings in the seven inning game and giving up just one run on seven hits. Downs struck out three and walked two. Senior John Evans earned a save by pitching the seventh inning. He allowed just one hit and struck out one.

"It wanted to come out on senior day and do the best I could. It's the last time I get to play and I wanted to give everything I had," said Downs. "I was trying to make sure I didn't get behind hitters and end up walking people. I was trying to get ahead and get them to ground out for me."

"It means a lot to get this win on senior day on the last game at Russ Carr Field," said Evans. "I'm glad to be a part of it. It felt good to be out here on senior day and have my parents here."

The pitcher's dual between Downs and Lion's pitcher Bryce Reid produced a scoreless tie for the first four innings in the second game. But a lead-off single by Vanguard shortstop Kyle Bondurant led to a sacrifice fly by first baseman Zachary Falk, giving the Lions a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom half of the fifth, Westmont senior shortstop Anthony Martinez led off and was walked by Reid. Freshman catcher Kyle Noe laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Martinez to second with one away. One out later, sophomore right fielder Charles Whitman drove a monster home run deep over the left field scoreboard to give the Warriors a 2-1 advantage. The bomb was Whitman's first collegiate home run.

Whitman, a resident of Baltimore, may have had some extra motivation. His father Lawrence Whitman had made the trip from Maryland and was in attendance at the game, watching his son play for the first time in a Warrior uniform.

"It was awesome to have my dad here," said Whitman. "He is my hero and it meant the world to me."

"I was so excited. I don't think I've jumped that high in a long time," said Downs of his reaction to Whitman's home run. "The whole dug out jumped up at once. It was awesome."

Following Whitman's home run, Taylor Maddox was walked by Reid, prompting Lions' head coach Scott Mallernee to make a pitching change and bring in Matthew Curtis. Curtis struggled on the mound, first throwing the ball in the dirt on a pick-off attempt which moved Maddox to second and then tossing a wild pitch to allow Maddox to move to third. Freshman third baseman Jordan Bottenfield capitalized on the mistakes by scoring Maddox on a single through the left side. Warrior first baseman Colten Christianson followed with a single to center, moving Bottenfield to second base. Two wild pitches later, Bottenfield had crossed the plate for the Warriors' fourth run.

In the first game, Westmont fell behind early, giving up six runs, two of them unearned, in the first three innings. Despite out hitting the Lions 12 to 10, Westmont fell short in a comeback attempt. The Warriors picked up two runs in the fifth inning when Bottenfield led off with a single and Christianson followed with a double to right center giving the Warriors runners at second and third with nobody out. One out later, freshman right fielder Terrell Wong doubled down the left field line to drive in both runners.

The Warriors added another run in the seventh on an RBI single by senior Jonathan White that scored Christianson who had walked to lead off the inning.

In the eighth inning, Westmont pushed two runs across the plate and threatened to score more. Maddox started the inning with a single to center and then stole second base. A single by Bottenfield moved Maddox to third, giving the Warriors runners at the corners. Christianson stepped to the plate and sent a ground ball screaming to the left of the second baseman. An outstanding play by the Lion's Andrew Ramirez retired Christianson at first but allowed Maddox to score and Bottenfield to take second.

Senior designated hitter Cody Chapman reached on an error by the shortstop before Wong hit into a fielder's choice which retired Bottenfield. Junior second baseman Mark Boujikian stepped to the plate next and singled down the left field line to score Chapman. But with the score now 6-5, the Warriors would leave two men stranded.

Senior Eric Gaustad was assigned the loss after pitching eight and one-third innings. Gaustad allowed seven runs, four earned on nine hits. He fanned eight Lions in his final home appearance while walking just two. Vanguard's Christopher Carls was the winning pitcher. Carls gave up two runs on six hits in six innings. Dustin Jones received the save for the Lions.

Between games, Westmont honored seven graduating seniors. Downs, Gaustad, Martinez, Chapman, White, Evans and Philip Valle were introduced at home plate and recognized for their important contributions to the Warrior program. Six of the seven played at Westmont all four years of their collegiate careers.

Westmont has one game remaining in the season. That game will be played at #5 Azusa Pacific (40-8, 28-7) on Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m.