 Westmont Baseball (13-2, 8-2 GSAC) took both games of a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader on Saturday to complete a three-game sweep of the Eagles of Biola (4-11, 2-10). The Warriors won the first game 7-5 and then ran away with the second game 11-1.
In the early game, starter Daniel Butler (1-0) picked up the win after allowing just two runs on two hits in six innings of work. Butler struck out two and walked one. Sam Sheehan earned his third save of the season, pitching one and two-third innings without allowing a hit or run. Sheehan struck out two and walked one.
Biola started the game by scoring two unearned runs in the top of the first. Lead-off hitter Paul Slater was hit by a pitch and then reached second on a throwing error by Butler during a bunt by Rob Groeschell.
With no outs and men on first and second, Julian Jarrard advanced both men with a sacrifice bunt. Slater would score on a ground out by Jeremy Barth. Groeschell then scored on a double by Jimmy Gallarda.
Westmont evened the score in the bottom half of the third with two unearned runs of their own. With one away, Michael Stefanic reached first on an error and advanced to second. After Stefanic took third on a wild pitch, Alex Bush drilled an RBI-triple to deep left center field. One out later, Bush scored on a wild pitch.
Westmont took the lead in the fifth inning on a pair of runs, one of which was earned. Michael Frigon took a lead-off walk and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Stefanic. A single by Bush advanced Frigon to third. An error on a sacrifice bunt by Will Barring scored Frigon, advanced Bush to third and put Barring on first. Blake Mathias then delivered a sacrifice fly to right field to score Bush.
The Eagles made it interesting in the top of the seventh with two baserunners. But reliever Shane Turner used 37 pitches to keep Biola from scoring.
The Warriors stretched their advantage to 6-2 with another pair of unearned runs. After Frigon singled to right center to lead off the inning, Stefanic laid down another sacrifice bunt to move Frigon to second. After a walk to Bush, head coach Robert Ruiz called for a double steal. As an errant throw to third bounded into left field, both Frigon and Bush continued around the base pads and crossed home plate.
In the top of the eighth, Biola scored three runs to make it a 6-5 game. With two runs in, one away and the bases loaded with Eagles, Sam Sheehan was called in from the bullpen. After giving up a walk to Andrew Frank to allow the third run of the inning, Sheehan coaxed Rawley Hughes into an inning-ending double play.
Westmont added a single run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a pinch hit double to center by Graylin Derke. Steven Pollex scored on Derke's blast after leading off the inning with a walk.
In the top of the ninth, Sheehan completed the save by retiring the side in order, the last two batters by swinging strike outs.
The second game saw Warrior bats explode for 15 hits while the pitching staff held the Eagles to just two. Starter Andrew Vasquez (3-0) pitched five of the scheduled seven innings, allowing just one hit, striking out nine and walking two. Hector Lujan sat the side down in order in the sixth inning and Michael Rishwain closed out the seventh allowing one run on one hit.
Barring singled in the game's first run, driving in Stefanic from third base in the first inning. Michael Pollex doubled down the right field line to bring home Barring before Derke delivered a triple down the right field line to score Pollex.
In the second inning, Bush provided an RBI single to right center field to score Andrew Devian from third base. After Bush stole second, Barring singled to center to score Bush.
The Warriors added three more runs in the fourth. With two away, Bush homered to right field for the innings' first run. Barring followed with a double down the left field line, bringing up Alika McGuire who pinch hit for Mathias. McGuire reached on an error that moved Barring to third. Michael Pollex also reached on an error. This time Barring scored and McGuire took third. Derke then singled to drive home McGuire and give the Warriors an 8-0 advantage.
Westmont's final three runs came in the bottom of the fifth. With one away, Austin Muller pinch hit and reached first on a single to left center. After Stefanic was walked, David Gable produced a pinch-hit single to center to load the bases.
A single by Barring drove in Muller and moved everyone else up 90 feet. One out later, Michael Pollex' singled down the right field line to drive in Stefanic and Gabel.
The Warriors will take a 10-game winning streak into next week's action that begins with a non-conference home game against British Columbia on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, the Warriors will host GSAC opponent Vanguard in a three-game series.
