Westmont Baseball didn't have the conference opener they had hoped for at Fresno Pacific. The Warriors lost both games of a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader, falling 9-5 in the first game and 8-3 in the second.
"We gave up too many runs in the early innings. That is something that you cannot do on the road," said Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz. "We got away from our hitting plan today. In the last three innings of the second game they only threw 24 pitches. Especially in a seven inning game, we can't let that happen."
Fresno Pacific scored a single run in the bottom of the first inning, but Westmont evened the score in the top of the second after designated hitter Tim Leary led of the innings with a double down the left field line. One out later, Leary reached third when catcher Jarrett Rouse singled up the middle. Hunter Christenson's ground ball to second allowed Leary to score.
"Tim Leary put pressure on the pitchers early," said Ruiz. "Jarrett Rouse has been hitting well and went two for three in the first game."
Rouse and Leary lead the team in batting average with Rouse hitting .433 and Leary hitting .400.
Westmont went ahead with two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Right fielder Coby Cress opened the inning with a double to center field and took third when David Gabel ground out to second. Rouse then doubled down the right field line, driving in Cress. Christenson followed with a double to center to bring Rouse home.
However, Fresno Pacific scored five runs in the bottom half of inning number four to give the Sunbirds a lead that they never surrendered. Westmont added one run in the fifth and another eighth but could not battle all the way back.
Torin Shaikh (2-1) was charged with the loss after pitching five innings and giving up eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits. Mitchell Crocker pitched two innings in relief allowing just one hit without giving up a run. Jonathon Breneman pitched the eighth inning for the Warriors, allowing one run on two hits.
"Mitchell continued to pitch well for us," noted Ruiz. "He has been very consistent this year."
In the second game, Westmont scored a single run on an RBI single by Leary which drove in J.J. Turbin. Turbin reached earlier on a walk and then stole second.
After the Sunbirds scored once in the bottom of the second, Westmont added another run in the top of the third on a RBI-single by Gabel that drove in Leary. The Warriors also added another run in the top of the fourth on a sacrifice fly to center by David Pennington.
However, the bottom of the fourth proved disastrous once again as the Sunbirds scored five times to take the lead for good.
Geoff Rocha took the loss for the Warriors. He pitched three and two-third innings, giving up six runs on six hits. Ryan Sullivan pitched one and one third innings in relief, allowing two runs on one hit. Devin Matson closed out the sixth inning, without allowing one run or one hit.
The Warriors and Sunbirds will meet up again on Saturday for another doubleheader. This one is to be played at Westmont's Russ Carr Field beginning at 11:00 a.m. and will feature two nine-inning games.
