Westmont Baseball is off to a 2-1 start after sweeping a home-opener doubleheader against the Swedes of Bethany (Kan.) on Saturday at Russ Carr Field. The Warriors took the opener 9-6 and then won the second game of the twin-bill 5-2.
"I am happy with the way the guys responded," said Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz, referring to Friday's season opening loss at Whittier. "We got back late and didn't have a lot of sleep. We had a team breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and the guys were on the field early. They came out and played with energy for two straight nine-inning ball games. Even in some adverse situation we fought through it and responded when we needed to.
Geoff Rocha started the first game for the Warriors and pitched five innings before leaving the game with a 4-2 lead. Rocha allowed two unearned runs and two hits while striking out four and issuing one walk.
"We were pleased with the way Geoff pitched today," said Ruiz. "He got behind in the count more than we would like him to, but he was effective with all of his pitches and did what we asked him to do. We were hoping to get five (innings) out of him and we did."
The Warriors scored twice in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Brent Fukushima led off with a double down the left field line and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by JJ Turbin. A single by Jordan Bottenfield to center field allowed Fukusima to score the game's first run.
After advancing to second on a long single by Tim Leary that hit a foot below the yellow line on the left field fence, Bottenfield took third on a bunt single by Colten Christianson. Mitch Petrak drove Bottenfield home with a single hit deep in the hole at short.
Steven Motush led off the top of the second inning with a double down the left field line. One out later, he moved to third on a ground ball to the pitcher. Bottenfield earned the RBI with a single through the left side of the infield that scored Motush.
Bethany broke through on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth, scoring two unearned runs. The first came on a sacrifice fly by Ben Gass that scored Evan Bloem. The second was the result of a fielder's choice ground ball that scored Logan Kanamu.
The Warriors took back one run in the bottom of the fifth when Bottenfield scored on a single by Colten Christianson to right center; making it a 4-2 game.
In the top of the sixth, Jacob Regalado relieved Rocha on the mound. Though he would give up three runs and the lead in the seventh inning, Regalado was credited with the win. The left-hander gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits. He struck out two and did not allow a walk.
Down 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Warriors put up three runs of their own in the bottom half of the seventh. After Bottenfield and Leary were each hit by a pitch, Coby Cress singled through the right side to load the bases with no outs.
That brought by Christianson whose single scored both Bottenfield and Leary. Cress would later score on a single up the middle by Petrak.
After a one-two-three inning by Regalado, the Warriors added some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Fukushima led off with a home run. One out later, Bottenfield was hit by a pitch and then scored on a double to right-center by Leary.
"I can't say enough about Regs and his outing today," said Ruiz. "He is a tremendous competitor, which is why we have him at the back of the bull pen. His maturity in combination with his experience as a pitcher and his competitiveness, gives us a guy that we can count on late in games. When plays weren't being made behind him, he executed his pitches, kept his composure and stayed poised. He's a leader out there."
The Swedes picked up one in the top of the ninth but it was not enough as the Warriors earned their first win on the new season. They would not have to wait long for the second.
Leary started on the mound for the Warriors in the second game and would eventually be credited with the win. Leary allowed just one run on two hits. He struck out five without allowing a walk.
"I'm really happy with the way Tim pitched today," said Ruiz. "He was keeping the ball down in the zone and throwing strikes. We've got to eliminate the HBPs (hit by pitch), but he was filling up the strike zone, pitched with some tempo and showed the ability to use his slider in some tough counts."
Westmont went up 2-0 in the third inning and never relinquished the lead. Fukushima connected for a one-out single up the middle and advanced to third when Turbin reached on a error. After Turbin stole second, Bottenfield grounded out to the pitcher. With two away, Leary was intentionally walked. Fukushima scored on a pass ball that the Swede's catcher then through past the pitcher covering home. That error allowed Turbin to score as well.
Bethany scored a run in the top of the fifth when Evan Erickson delivered an RBI single to left field which drove in pinch runner Trenton Terrell from third. Terrell served as a courtesy runner for Logan Kanamu who had earlier reached when he was hit by a pitch.
Jonathon Breneman replaced Leary in the top of the sixth and pitched three innings. He gave up one run after hitting a batter with a pitch but did not allow a hit. The freshman faced just 10 batters, one more than the three-inning minimum.
"I was proud of Breneman in his first college outing as a true freshman," said Ruiz. "He did exactly what we asked him to do which was to be fearless and attack the strike zone. He did so with all three of his pitches."
Westmont added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to help put the game away. After Christianson walked, Petrack laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Christianson to second. Chris Ramirez grounded out to the pitcher to make it two away, bringing up Jarratt Rounse.
Rouse hit a routine fly ball to right field. But the ball was misplayed by Bethany's Jacob Arroyo on what should have been the final out of the inning. Christianson scored on the error and Rouse reached second. Motush served as a courtesy runner for Rouse and scored when Fukushima singled up the middle. Fukushima, who had taken second on the throw to the plate, then scored when Turbin singled on a ground ball through the right side, making it a 5-1 ballgame.
In the top of the ninth, Mitchell Crocker relieved Breneman. Crocker gave up a lead-off single to Reynaldo Garcia, but then retired the next three batters to record a save and give Westmont the win.
"I was happy with Mitchell today as well," said Ruiz. "He was efficient, got the ball in play and let our defense work. He had been sitting for seventeen innings today. He came out for the eighteenth inning of baseball and he was ready to go."
Fukushima was four for ten with two RBIs and four runs scored. Although he committed one error, he also put on a show at shortstop making three putouts and 17 assists.
"For a kid who is playing his second day of college baseball, Fuks did a phenomenal job," said Ruiz. "He made the play in the hole consistently today and he made the play on the run consistently. He caught a ball in the outfield that was a big league play. He was aggressive both offensively and defensively."
Leary was five for eight at the dish, recording hits in each of his first five at bats. Christianson had a four-for-eight day with the stick. He drove in three runs and scored.
The Warriors return to action on Thursday, February 3 when they host La Sierra in a two o'clock game.
