With the sun having already set and twilight threating to suspend play, Westmont's Will Barring delivered an RBI-single that capped off a sweep of the Flames of Bethesda (0-3).

"Our guys found a way to come out and win some ballgames," said Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz. "This early in the season, you don't expect things to be 100 percent, but we found a way to do enough to close out three games. It was a great team effort to come from behind and find a way to win that final game in the last inning."

The Warriors (3-0) started the season on Friday with a 9-7 win over the Flames. Preseason NAIA All-American Russell Harmening (1-0) took the mound on opening day and delivered five innings of scoreless pitching. The junior right-hander allowed just three hits while facing 20 batters.

The Warriors tallied 14 hits on the day including home runs by Blake Matthias and David Gabel. Westmont also benefited from a triple by Austin Muller and doubles from Barring (2), Steven Pollex, Alex Bush and Alika McGuire.

Westmont took the first game of Saturday's doubleheader by another 9-7 scored. Starting pitcher Sam Sheehan (1-0) earned the win after pitching four innings in which he allowed four earned runs on three hits. The Warriors scored six runs in the first inning of the morning game by tallying five hits and benefiting from three errors.

The Flames responded in the top of the third inning when they scored five runs on three hits and a Warrior error.

Westmont picked up a run in the fourth on an RBI bunt single by Gabel and another in the fifth on a ground ball by Bush with the bases loaded that scored Ryan Beveridge. The Warriors final run came in the seventh inning when Michael Frigon singled through the right side, allowing Beveridge to score from second.

The Flames threatened in the top of the eighth inning and closed the gap to 9-7 when the ball dislodged from the glove of third baseman Graylin Derke as he attempted to tag a runner.

Reliever Taylor Martin was called upon to come out of the pen with a two-run lead, runners on the corners and a one away. Martin delivered a pitch to the Flames' Jonathan Velasquez who bunted on the grass down the third base line. Derke charged the ball and delivered a strike to Bush at first to retire Velasquez. Once Derke fired to first, Bethesda's Chris Carter dashed from third to home. However, Bush threw to Westmont catcher Robert Mendez who applied the tag on Carter for the inning-ending double play.

In the top of the ninth inning, Martin completed the save by retiring the Flames in order.

"Taylor Martin was really good out of the pen," pointed out Ruiz. "He had a good mound presence and attacked the strike zone and was poised.

In the series finale, Westmont fell behind when Bethesda scored one run in the first and two in the second to take a 3-0 lead.

Starter Alex Bush pitched three innings giving up three runs on six hits before being relieved by Daniel Butler to start of the top of the fourth.

"I was really happy with Daniel Butler's outing today," said Ruiz. "He came in and shut some things down. He did a good job of filling up the strike zone and competing for us. He kept the game close and gave us a chance to come back and win it."

A lead-off homer by Bush in the bottom of the fourth got the Warriors on the board. Bush had remained in the game as a designated hitter. Westmont added another run in the same inning on a sacrifice fly by Michael Pollex that drove in Barring, cutting the lead to 3-2. However, the Flames scored a single run in the top of the fifth to stretch their advantage to two runs.

In the bottom of the sixth, Barring led off with a walk to give the Warriors a much-needed baserunner. However, Bethesda reliever Jesus Sauceda struck out the next three batters to maintain the Flame's lead.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Mendez walked and was replaced on the base pads by Beveridge. Derek Rodigo was also walked, and Steven Pollex re-entered the game taking first for Rodigo. Gabel then pitch hit for Rudy Leon. Beveridge and Pollex each advanced a base on a wild pitch before Sauceda struck out Gabel. However, the final strike to Gabel got away from the Flames' catcher allowing Beveridge to score and Pollex to take third base. ​​​​Gabel would be thrown out a first to account for the second out.

After Bush was intentionally walked, Pollex scored the tying run on yet another passed ball. Bush moved up to second on the miscue, bringing up Barring with two away. Barring's single to center drove in Bush for the game winning run and the Warriors rushed the field in celebration.

"Mendez had a phenomenal weekend and did a great job managing the game behind the plate as a true freshman," said Ruiz. "Drawing the walk (in the seventh) changed the inning. Then Rodigo had a quality at bat in a pressure situation. It gave our upper classmen a chance to go win that ballgame - and they did." Next weekend, the Warriors begin Golden State Athletic Conference play by traveling to Phoenix for a three-game series with Arizona Christian (0-0).