Box Score

By Ron Smith
February 24, 2017
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Matt Hartman threw a gem on the diamond at Russ Carr Field on Friday afternoon. Hartman gave up just three hits in a complete-game shutout to lead #8 Westmont Baseball (7-2, 1-1 GSAC) to a 1-0 blanking of Golden State Athletic Conference rival Biola (10-5, 0-3).
 
Hartman, a junior transfer from Arizona, threw 130 pitches allowing just one hit in the first, one in the third and one in the ninth innings. The 6-3 right-hander from Valley Center struck out 10 and walked two. The win was the second of the year for Harman against no loses.
 
Biola's Jimmy Gallarda (2-2) also pitched a complete game but suffered the loss. Gallarda gave up seven hits, struck out seven and walked one (intentionally).
 
The game's only run came in the bottom of the fourth after third baseman Luke Coffey ripped a 1-1 pitch down the first base line for a lead-off triple. One out later, Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz called for a safety squeeze. Catcher Kyle Soria executed a sacrifice bunt down the first base line, allowing Coffey to score without a play at the plate.
 
Hartman never allowed more than one Eagle on base during any inning. The Eagles' best chance to score came in the sixth inning after Chris Palmer was issued a lead-off walk. Sam Thorne advanced Palmer to second with a sacrifice bunt and Jeremy Barth moved Palmer to third on a ground-out to first. However, Hartman retired the threat by coaxing Jerron Largusa to fly out to right field.
 
Westmont had a chance to add an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. In his first collegiate plate appearance, William Hoyer-Pingle pinch hit for shortstop Bryce Morison to lead off the inning and singled to right. Morison, re-entered the game by assuming Hoyer-Pringles place as a runner on first.
 
A sacrifice bunt by Shane Soria advanced Morison to second base. After Connor McManigal filed out to center field for the second out, second baseman Michael Stefanic was intentionally walked, giving the Warriors runners at first and second.
 
First baseman Travis Vander Molen then singled to left field and Morison was waved home as he rounded third. However, the throw from Barth to Eagles' catcher Rawley Hughes was on target and Morison was tagged out at the plate to end the inning.
 
The Warriors and Eagles will match up again tomorrow in a doubleheader at Russ Carr Field. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.