A seven-run fifth inning in the first game and a six-run third in the second, helped Westmont Baseball (9-21, 6-14 GSAC) pick up a couple of Golden State Athletic Conference wins over Concordia (12-11, 9-10 GSAC) at Russ Carr Field on Saturday. The Warriors won the first game 11-10 in ten innings before posting an 8-4 victory in game two. The Warriors have won six of their last seven games.
After spotting the Eagles an 8-0 lead by giving up four runs in both the second and third innings of the first game, Westmont sent 12 men to the plate in the fifth inning and cut the margin to just one run.
Right fielder Brent Meschuk started the inning off with a walk and advanced to second on a single through the right side of the infield by third baseman Jordan Bottenfield. David Stout reached on a fielder's choice which saw Meschuk move over to third and Bottenfield retired at second. Meschuk scored and Stout moved to third on a ground-rule double to left field by catcher Sam Wiley. First baseman Mark Magdaleno ground out to second but Meschuk scored on the play and Charles Whitman, pinch running for Wiley, reached third.
With two outs, the Warriors' next six batters all recorded hits. Second baseman Mark Boujikian doubled to left-center to score Whitman. Designated hitter Colten Christiansen also doubled to left-center, scoring Boujikian. Center fielder Taylor Maddox singled through the right side to score Christianson. Torres also found the hole in the right side of the infield, moving Maddox to third. Meschuk then singled down the left field line, scoring Maddox and moving Torres to second. Bottenfield then singled for a second time in the inning, scoring Torres.
Concordia added two runs in the top of the sixth, extending their lead to 10-7. But Westmont answered right back, tying the game at 10 with three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Wiley opened the inning with an infield single and was replaced on the base pads by Whitman. Magdaleno then grounded to second but everyone was safe on a fielding error by the Eagle's second baseman. A walk to Boujikian loaded the bases with no one out. Pete McCarthy stepped into the batter's box as designated hitter and reached on a fielder's choice that scored Whitman at third and retired Boujikian at second. Maddox then connected for an infield single that moved McCarthy to second and allowed Magdaleno to score. After Torres struck out, Meschuk singled up the middle to score McCarthy and tie the game.
Neither team scored again until the bottom of the tenth inning when Boujikian came up to bat and sent a walk-off homerun over the left field fence. Boujikian was three for three on the day with two runs and two RBIs. He also reached on three walks. Meschuk was three for four with two RBIs and a run scored. Maddox was three for five with two RBIs and a run. Wiley and Bottenfield were both three for six and each had an RBI. As a team, the Warriors recorded 18 hits and four walks.
Dan Price (2-1) picked up the win for Westmont, pitching the final two innings without allowing a hit.
In the second game the Warriors fell behind 1-0 in the first inning but tied the game on an RBI single by Maddox in the bottom of the second. The Warriors then erupted for six runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 7-1 lead.
Meschuk led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a pass ball. Bottenfield singled through the left side, advancing Meschuk to third. But Meschuk was thrown out at third when Stout hit a ball back to the pitcher.
With runners on first and second and one away, Wiley picked up two RBIs on a double to center field. Magdaleno then walked and was replaced at first by Whitman. One out later, Christianson was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Maddox then hit a single to left field on which both Whitman and Wiley scored. Torres followed with a single to left, scoring Maddox and Christianson.
Concordia cut the Warrior lead to three with a run in the fourth inning and two more in the sixth.
Magdaleno hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth inning to complete the scoring, driving in Bottenfield from third.
Kellen Skersies (2-4) picked up the win, allowing four runs, three earned, on ten hits in six innings of work. Tim Crabbe worked the final seventh inning, allowing one hit.
Maddox was two for two at the plate with one walk. He had two RBIs and 2 run. Bottenfield was two for three with a walk and two runs scored. Wiley went two for four with two RBIs and one run.
The Warriors return to Russ Carr Field on Wednesday when they host Fresno Pacific in a two o'clock game.
