Westmont Baseball (19-24-1, 10-18 GSAC) took a lead late into both games of a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader, but #4 Azusa Pacific (38-8, 25-3) rallied each time to claim a sweep. The Cougars claimed an 8-5 win in the first game. In the second game, which was scheduled for seven innings, Azusa Pacific won 5-3 in ten innings.
In the first game, Azusa Pacific jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning before Westmont added two runs in the bottom of the third. After Brent Fukushima led off the inning with a double, Greg Ruggles popped up a bunt that fell safely between home plate and the pitchers mound.
Fukushima and Ruggles them moved up to third and second bases respectively on a sacrifice bunt by Brandon Gildea. Fukushima later scored on a single by J.J. Turbin. Ruggles scored on a bases loaded walk to David Gabel.
Westmont added two more in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Gildea that scored Hunter Christenson on a bases-loaded ground ball by Turbin on which Ruggles scored.
Azusa Pacific made it a 4-2 game in the top of the fifth, but Westmont scored in the bottom of the sixth to restore a three-run margin (5-2). After David Pennington hit a two-out triple, Turbin singled up the middle to bring Pennington home.
However, Azusa Pacific responded with a run in the seventh, a three-run eighth and a two runs in the ninth to claim the game.
Ryan Sullivan started the game for the Warriors but did not figure in the decision. Sullivan pitched six and two-third innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked three. Michael Kwan was charged with the loss after giving up one run on one hit in one inning.
In the second game, Azusa Pacific's Sam Soyring walked to lead off the game, bringing up Brent Warren. Warren hit a ball to the left centerfield fence to the left of the scoreboard, but Turbin reached above the fence to rob Warren of a two-run homerun. Turbin also wheeled around and threw Soyring out at first to complete the double play. Before the inning was over, however, Jordan Leyland would give the Cougars a 1-0 lead with a solo home run to right.
Westmont evened the score in the bottom of the second on a home run by David Gabel before the Cougars went up 2-1 on a RBI double by Danny Gonzalez.
In the bottom of the sixth, Westmont scored twice. Pennington led off with an infield single and reached second when Turbin ground out to first. After an intentional walk to Tim Leary, Gabel reached on a walk to load the bases.
A single by Mitch Petrack to center field tied the game at one and left the bases loaded. Christenson then reached on a fielder's choice, giving Westmont a 3-2 lead when Leary scored.
With one away in the top of the seventh, Leyland hit his second solo home run of the game, sending the contest into extra innings. A two-run home run in the top of the tenth by Matt Page gave the Cougars a win.
Mitch Crocker was charged with the loss. He pitched three and two-third innings giving up three runs on five hits.
With one week to go in the regular season, Westmont finds itself in a tie for seventh place with San Diego Christian 18-29, 10-18). The top six teams will advance to the GSAC Tournament.
Westmont is a game and one-half behind Vanguard (21-18, 11-16) with whom they begin a four game series on Thursday. Before matching up with the Warriors, Vanguard has a makeup game scheduled on Monday with #16 The Master's (31-18, 16-15).
The Warriors trail fifth place Fresno Pacific (24-22, 12-16) by two games. Fresno Pacific has a four-game series with #12 Concordia (30-15, 19-9). San Diego Christian will finish up the regular season with four games against Biola (22-24, 15-13).
