Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
By
Ron Smith
Westmont Baseball, ranked 16th in the NAIA, split a doubleheader with Oregon Tech on Saturday to take two out of three in the opening weekend series. The Warriors won the first game 5-4 by scoring a single run in five consecutive innings. The Owls prevailed in the series finale 2-1.
Senior Alex Bush started the first game for the Warriors and pitched four innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Bush struck out three and walked two. Senior Michael Rishwain relieved Bush in the fifth inning and picked up the win while allowing two runs (one earned) over three innings of work. Zach DeMarcus and Sam Sheehan pitched the eighth and ninth respectively, each retiring the side in order. Sheehan was awarded a save.
Bush, who also served as the designated hitter, led the charge for the Warriors' offense, producing four hits in five at bats,
Michael Frigon led off the bottom of the third inning with a double down the right field line. Bush singled up the middle, advancing Frigon to third. Derrick Rodigo singled through the right side to score Frigon and initiate the run-an-inning sequence for the next five innings.
Alika McGuire singled with one away in the fourth inning, and then took third on a single by Jarrett Costa. McGuire eventually scored on a pass ball.
In the fifth, Bush singled to left and then stole second. Rodigo ground out to short, advancing Bush to third. Graylin Derke brought Bush home on a double to left.
The sixth inning saw Frigon reach on an infield single with one away. Michael Stefanic's single to left field moved Frigon to second. Bush then singled to left and all runners moved up a base when the Owls' left fielder mishandled the ball.
With the score tied at four, Michael Pollex pinch hit in the seventh inning and tripled to right center field. McGuire picked up an RBI when he drove a ball to center field for a sacrifice fly and what proved to be the winning run.
The second game saw Oregon Tech take a 1-0 lead in the third inning when a sacrifice fly by Bryan Grant scored Loren Cutolo. The latter had previously reached base on an error.
The Owls added a second run in the top of the seventh inning on a single by Cutolo that drive in Matthew Moorehead from third.
Westmont rallied in the bottom of the ninth and nearly tied the game. With one away, Costa pinch hit and drew a walk. Alexander Scalco then pinch ran for Costa. Scalco reached second on a wild pitch and then advance to third when McGuire grounded out.
With two away, freshman Luke Coffey stepped to the plate and delivered a double down the right field line. That brought up Clarke Bader who pounded a ball to deep left center field. However, Owls' left fielder Michael Kilpatrick made a dazzling play to end the game. Racing hard toward the left-center field fence, Kilpatrick jumped for the ball and grabbed it by his glove's webbing. He then fell to the ground, rolled over and rose with his hand held high, holding the ball as evidence of his game-saving catch.
Westmont starter David Gaydos was assigned the loss despite giving up just one unearned run. Gaydos allowed four hits in five innings of play, struck out five and did not surrender a base on balls.
Tyler Bennett earned the complete game win, pitching nine innings and allowing just one run on five hits.
The Warriors will play three times next week in the same number of locations. On Thursday, the Warriors will take on Providence Christian in Arcadia. Then on Friday, the Firebirds of Saint Katharine will come to Montecito. On Saturday, Westmont will travel down the 101 freeway to take on California Lutheran.
