Box Score
By
Ron Smith
Home runs in the early innings from
Graylin Derke and Matt Mattock sparked #7 Westmont Baseball (32-7) to a 13-2 home win against the Sea Beggars from Providence Christian (6-34). The Warriors used 22 players in the Tuesday afternoon non-conference affair.
Derke's three-run home run came in the bottom of the first inning. Mattock was the recipient of a lead-off walk and then advanced to second when Michael Valentine, Jr. was hit by a pitch. Alex Bush was walked to load the bases with no outs.
Jarrett Costa stepped to the plate and delivered a full-count pitch to right field for a sacrifice fly that scored Mattock. One out later, Derke deposited the ball over the right-center field fence, just in front of the scoreboard.
Matlock racked up his three-run home run in the bottom of the second. The inning started with a base on balls to Andrew Devian and Luke Zosky reaching when he was hit by a pitch. Matlock's home run down the right field line cleared the batting cages beyond the foul pole. As a result, Westmont had a 7-0 lead with just two hits in the game.
Two more runs would score before the second inning came to an end. Valentin singled on a ground ball through the right side and then advanced when Bush was walked for a second time. That drove Sea Beggars' starting pitcher Dylan Chavez from the game in favor of Robert Duran. Chavez was eventually charged with the loss.
Costa, first to face the new pitcher, singled through the left side to load the bases. Derek Rodigo produced a single to center field that drove in Valentin while keeping the bases loaded. One out later, Turner Conrad picked up an RBI on a ground out to third.
Down 9-0, Providence Christian scored a run in the top of the third inning to get on the scoreboard. With the bases loaded, Adam Vargas grounded out to third, scoring CJ Perez from third base.
Westmont claimed the run back in the bottom of the third. With one away, Matlock was hit by a pitch. A double by Valentin down the left field line moved Matlock to third and brought up Bush. The senior stepped to the plate a drove a ball into center field for a sacrifice fly that scored Matlock.
The scored remained 10-1 until the bottom of the sixth inning, at which point, head coach Robert Ruiz was giving fans a glimpse into the future of the Warriors by subbing in some of the team's younger players.
With one away, sophomore Justin McPhail reached first on an error. Freshman Luke Coffey then drove an-RBI triple over the center fielder's head to drive in McPhail. Sophomore Henry Hedeen drove in Coffey with a ground ball to second base.
Providence Christian picked up their second run in the top of the seventh inning. Steven Zermeno doubled down the right field line to scored Christian Prado from second base. Prado had previously reached with a single to right center.
Westmont added its 13th run in the bottom of the eighth. With two away, McPhail was hit by a pitch. Coffey then gained first by virtue of walk, moving McPhail to second base. Hedeen took advantage of the base runners, picking up his second RBI of the game with a single to left
Senior Brenden Shoemake pitched the first five innings of the game and was awarded his fourth win of the season against no loses. Shoemake allowed just one run on two hits while striking out three.
Freshman Grant Gardner took over for Shoemake and pitched an inning and two-thirds. Gardner allowed one run on two hits and struck out one.
Sophomore Adrian Farago finished up the seventh inning and faced two batters. He walked one and struck out one. Freshman Sean Coyne pitched the eighth, retiring the side in order and striking out one.
Sophomore Bay Buckley finished out the game on the hill with a scoreless ninth inning. Buckley walked one but retired the other three batters he faced.
Westmont returns to Golden State Athletic Conference play this weekend by hosting a three-game series with Hope International. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for three o'clock. Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for an eleven o'clock start.