Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
By
Ron Smith
Westmont Baseball (35-7, 20-4 GSAC) completed a three-game sweep of Hope International (19-24-1, 9-15) by taking both ends of a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader at Russ Carr Field.
Alex Bush produced a bases-loaded walk-off single in the ninth inning of the opener to give Westmont a 4-3 win. In the nightcap, the Warriors rallied with three runs in the fifth inning to claim a 3-1 victory.
With 35 wins in their first 42 games, Westmont, the seventh ranked team in the NAIA, is three-games ahead of where they were last year at the same time – a year in which they recorded their best record in program history (41-17).
Westmont's magic number to clinch the GSAC Regular Season Championship is now six games. Eleventh-ranked Vanguard (34-9-1, 19-5), which swept William Jessup in a doubleheader today, remains one game back of the Warriors in the GSAC standings. Any combination of conference wins by Westmont and conference losses by Vanguard that adds up to six will result in the Warriors claiming the regular season crown.
In the opener, both starting pitchers – David Gaydos for the Warriors and Dominic Potlongo for the Royals – retired the first six batters that they faced. Hope International's Jake Harris claimed the first hit of the game in the top of the third – a two out single through the left side of the infield. But Gaydos struck out Robert Berryman to put an end to the inning.
Westmont responded in the bottom half of the third not only with hits, but with runs. Turner Conrad doubled down the left field line to start the inning and then advanced to third when Alika McGuire was retired on a ground ball to third.
Andrew Devian then stepped to the plate and delivered an RBI-single to drive in Conrad for the first run of the game. It proved to be the first of three hits by the Warriors' shortstop and the first of two RBIs.
An infield single by Michael Stefanic advanced Devian to second before a sacrifice bunt by Michael Frigon moved both runners up one base. Devian scored on a wild pitch to give Westmont a 2-0 lead.
Devian made it a 3-0 game when he punched the ninth pitch he saw in the fifth inning over the left field fence for a solo home run.
Through five innings, Gaydos had allowed just one hit. However in the sixth, the Royals got to the right-hander for three runs on four hits; causing Westmont head coach to summon Stephen Larson from the bull pen. Gaydos, who did not figure in the decision, struck out eight of the 22 men he faced and did not allow a walk.
Larson got the Warriors out of the sixth inning with no further damage and the score tied at three. Larson also pitched the seventh and walked the lead-off batter Titus Carlson. Larson struck out the next two but saw Carlson steal second to put a Royal in scoring position with two away.
With Berryman at the plate, Westmont catcher Jarrett Costa blocked a ball in the dirt while Carlson started for third. By the time Carlson realized the Costa had recovered, he was standing 35 feet from second and 55 feet from third. Costa ran towards the runner then fired to second, forcing Carlson to break for third. Stefanic relayed the ball from second to third were Graylin Derke made the catch and applied the tag to end the inning.
The score was still tied at three with one out in the bottom of the ninth when Devian doubled down the left field line to give the Warriors a chance to end the game in regulation. Michael Valentine, Jr. was called upon to pinch run for Devian.
Michael Stefanic lined a ball into center field just over the head of Berryman, the Royals' second baseman. Valentine had to hold up to see if Stefnic's smash would be caught, but did reach third on the play. Frigon was then walked on five pitches to load the bases and bring up Bush. The senior lined a 1-0 pitch into right center to give Westmont its eighth victory in a row.
Michael Rishwain, who pitched the final two innings, was awarded the win – his third this year against no losses. Rishwain allowed one hit, struck out two and did not allow a walk.
After delivering the game winning hit in the game one, Bush took the mound for game two. The senior allowed just one hit – a home run by Martin Teague – in five innings of work. Bush (1-1), who earned the win, struck out three and did not permit a walk.
The only other baserunner that Bush allowed was in the second inning when Brett Finicle reached on an error with one away. Teague followed Finicle and flied out to right where Derek Rodigo not only made the catch, but also threw out Finicle at first for a double play.
Bush's contributions in game two were not limited to the mound. He also delivered three hits with his bat, as has become his custom. Leading the Warriors with a batting average of .394, a slugging percentage of .635 and an on-base percentage of .515, Bush has even more impressive offensive numbers in the games in which he has been the starting pitcher. In those four contests, Bush has a batting average of .615, a slugging percentage of .923 and an on-base percentage of .722.
After Teague's solo home run in the top of the fifth, Westmont answered with three runs of its own. A one-out walk by Frigon was followed by a single up the middle by Bush that advanced Frigon to second. After Valentine replaced Bush at first base, Valentine and Frigon advance a base on a wild pitch.
The first run scored when Costa reached on an error with Frigon scoring on the play and Valentine reaching third. With Taylor Bush running for Costa at first, Rodigo laid down a bunt single that brought home Valentine and advanced Bush to second. A walk to Derke loaded the bases for Conrad who drove a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Bush.
Sam Sheehan was called upon to pitch the final two innings and the senior right-hander was rewarded with his 10th save of the year. That ties Tony Tubbs from the 1988 team for the Warriors' single season record. Sheehan currently ranks second in career saves with 14, four behind Tubbs who is also the career record holder. Sheehan allowed one hit, struck out four and did not issue a walk.
Next up for the Warriors is a non-conference game with Marymount on Tuesday afternoon at Russ Carr Field. First pitch is scheduled for three o'clock.
