It was a classic battle between the two of teams at the top of the Golden State Athletic Conference baseball standings on Saturday afternoon at Russ Carr Field. At stake was a claim on first place going into next weekend's final series of the regular season.
Westmont (35-11, 29-10 GSAC), ranked at number 13 in the NAIA national coaches' poll, had the opportunity to move into a tie with #5 The Master's (38-9, 31-8) if they could sweep the Mustangs in Saturday's doubleheader. The Warriors nearly pulled it off.
Westmont took game one 4-1 behind a complete game performance by sophomore right-hander Daniel Butler (8-0) to set up the first-place showdown in the nightcap.
In the second game, the Warriors held a 4-3 lead going into the final scheduled inning. However, The Mustangs scored an unearned run to send the game into extra innings. Five runs in the top of the 11th, four off a grand slam by Nick Covello, secured the win for the Mustangs.
In the opener, Butler threw a four-hitter, striking out four without allowing a walk. He faced just 30 batters and threw just 99 pitches. The only run he surrendered was the result of a lead-off, line-drive home run to right field by Caleb Halverson in the ninth.
The Warriors scored a single run in the bottom of the fifth. With one away, Michael Pollex was hit by a pitch to give Westmont a base runner. A single to center by Graylin Derke moved Pollex to second. One out later, Rudy Leon drove in Alika McGuire, who pinch ran for Pollex, with a single to right.
In the bottom of the seventh, designated hitter Derek Rodigo led off with a single. Graylin Derke laid down a bunt single that, combined with a throwing error by the Mustang's pitcher, moved Rodigo to third.
After Steven Pollex reached on a fielder's choice that drove in Rodigo, Leon delivered an RBI-triple to left-center field. Leon, who went three for three in the game with two RBIs, would later score on an infield single by Alex Bush.
In the second game, The Master's went up 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning. David Sheaffer drove in one run on an infield single. Scott Savage picked up an RBI when he blooped a ball down the right field line that fell in fair territory and bounced out of play for a ground-rule double. The third run was driven in by Josh Brown who reached on a fielder's choice.
Westmont responded in the sixth inning with four runs. Bush walked to lead off the inning and one out later advanced two second on a single by Blake Matthias. A single down the left field line by Rodigo drove in Bush and advanced Matthias to second. Then Turner Conrad stepped to the plate and deposited a ball in the bank over the left field fence to credit three runs to the Warriors' account.
Westmont was just two outs away from a win in the game that was scheduled for seven innings when Sam Robison reached on an error. A single to left by Popadics gave the Mustangs runners at first and second before a successful double steal moved both runners into scoring position.
Robison scored on a fielder's choice by Collin Nyenhuis that advanced Popadics to third. When Covello flied out to right field, Popadics tagged up and headed home. However, Matthias' throw to the plate gunned him down to prevent the Mustangs from taking the lead.
The Warriors had a chance to win the game in the bottom of the seventh. With one away Michael Stefanic reached with a single up the middle and Ryan Beveridge came in as a pinch runner. With two away, Will Barring walked, moving Beveridge to second. Matthias then singled to right field and Beveridge rounded third and headed home. However, the throw from right fielder John Brazil was on the money and Beveridge was called out.
The score remained tied until the top of the eleventh when the Mustangs produced five runs, including Covello's grand slam.
As a result of this weekend's play, Westmont remains in second place in the GSAC standings, two games behind The Master's with three games to play. Concordia (39-12, 28-11), which will travel to Westmont for a season-ending series next weekend, is one game back of Westmont and three games off the pace of The Master's. Vanguard (33-15, 26-13), is in fourth place in the GSAC standings, five games out of first and three games behind the Warriors. The Lions will host The Master's next weekend.
To win the GSAC Championship outright, Westmont needs to sweep Concordia and see Vanguard sweep The Master's.
To earn a co-championship with the Master's, one of two scenarios must play out. Either Westmont sweeps Concordia and Vanguard takes two of three from The Master's or Westmont takes two of three from Concordia and Vanguard sweeps The Master's. Under either of these scenario, Westmont would be the number one seed and host the upcoming GSAC Tournament.
If the Warriors take two of three from Concordia, and The Master's wins at least two games against Vanguard, The Warriors will secure second place in the final GSAC standings and the number two seed in the conference tournament.
Before Friday's series opener with Concordia, Westmont will host the Pioneers of Antelope Valley in a non-conference affair at three o'clock.
