The Warriors are learning to play long ball. Not the kind of long ball that comes from hitting the ball deep into the outfield or over the fence – though Westmont (36-12, 30-10 GSAC) is pretty good at that – but rather the kind that comes from extra innings. For the second game in a row, Westmont has taken 11 innings to decide a baseball game. This time, however, the Warriors emerged for the extended frames with a 4-3 win over #19 Concordia (39-13, 28-12).
The game began as a pitching duel between Westmont's Russell Harmening (10-2) and Concordia's Isaiah Terrazas (4-2). Neither starter, however, figured in the decision. Terrazas pitched seven innings giving up one run on six hits. He struck out three and walked one. Harmening – the Warriors' career leader in wins with 28 – went eight and two-third innings, giving up two runs on seven hits. He did not allow a walk and struck out five.
Westmont put up a run in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly by Steven Pollex that drove in Blake Matthias from third. Matthias led off the inning with a single through the right side, advanced to second on a single by Graylin Derke and took third on a wild pitch.
Concordia answered back, however, with a run in the top of the third when an RBI-double by Kyle Jones drove in Ryan Goodman.
In the bottom of the eighth, Nick Boyett took the mound for the Eagles and gave up a lead-off walk to Michael Frigon. A sacrifice bunt by Michael Stefanic moved Frigon to second before a single by Alex Bush gave the Warriors runners on the corners with one away. Will Barring then hit a sacrifice fly to right field to give Westmont a 2-1 lead going into the top of the ninth.
Again, the Eagles rallied to tie the game. With two away, Mitchell Esser advanced from first to second on a wild pitch. Robert Shiroky took advantage of the runner in scoring position and singled up the middle to even the contest at two runs apiece. After Harmening surrendered another single, Hector Lujan was called upon to close out the inning for the Warriors and did so by striking out pinch hitter Tino Leite.
In the bottom of the ninth, Derke provided a lead of single to give the Warriors some hope. Concordia countered, however, by calling Tyler Mark to the mound. Last week, Mark produced three saves to become the NAIA record holder with 20 saves in a single season. Mark was named the GSAC and NAIA Pitcher of the Week as a result of his accomplishment. True to form Mark, recorded outs on the next three at bats, sending the game to extra innings.
The Eagles took the lead in the top of the tenth when Goodman scored from third on a ground out to first base by Esser. Now, it was the Warriors' time to respond.
Bush singled through the right side to lead off the inning and one out later took second on a single to center by Matthias. Michael Pollex then singled up the middle to score Bush; tying the game at three runs each and denying Mark an opportunity to extend his record to 21 saves.
In the top of the 11th inning, Michael Rishwain (2-1) – who would eventually be credited with the win – was called upon to relieve Lujan and pitched a scoreless inning while allowing one hit.
After Mark retired the first two Warrior batters in the bottom of the eleventh, Ryan Crowe singled to left field to give the Warriors some hope. Zach DeMarcus, who replaced Crowe as a courtesy runner, advanced to third on a single to right by Stefanic. That brought up Bush who turned a 2-1 count into a walk-off RBI single to center field; handing Mark (3-1) his first loss of the year.
In the other GSAC game of note, #8 The Master's defeated Vanguard 3-2 to reduce their magic number to one to win the GSAC Regular Season Championship. Westmont, which clinched the number two seed in the upcoming GSAC Tournament with today's win, still has a chance to tie The Master's. However, to do so they will need to sweep Concordia in tomorrow's doubleheader and see Vanguard sweep The Master's in both games in Costa Mesa.
If that scenario plays out, Westmont will be the tournament's number one seed. Otherwise, The Master's will be the number one seed and Westmont the number two seed. Concordia has secured the number three seed and Vanguard will be the number four seed.
Tomorrow's action at Russ Carr Field will be preceded with Senior Day activities, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
