Box Score

By Ron Smith
March 24, 2017
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) A three-run blast by Derek Rodigo and a two-RBI triple by Taylor Bush was all the offense Westmont needed to post a 5-4 win over #21 Vanguard (19-14, 11-5 GSAC) on Friday afternoon at Russ Carr Field.
 
Westmont starter Daniel Butler (2-2) picked up the win after pitching seven innings. The right-handed senior allowed four runs on 11 hits and struck out four without surrendering a walk. Toby Dunlap pitched the eighth inning for the Warriors, retiring the side in order. Lance Simpson did the same in the ninth to earn his second save of the year.
 
The loss was charged to Vanguard starter Monty McCasland who gave up five runs on seven hits, struck out five and walked two in six innings of work.
 
The Warriors took the lead in the bottom of the second inning. Isaiah Leach singled to center with one away. One out later, Neil Sterling walked to put men on first and second. That brought up Bush who powered the ball into deep left-center field to drive in both Leach and Sterling.
 
After Vanguard's Shane Elias-Calles deposited a three-run home run over the left field fence in the top of the fifth to give the Lions the lead, Westmont replied in kind in the bottom of the same inning.
 
With one away, Connor McManigal reached on a single down the right field line and then stole second. One out later, Stefanic drove a ground ball deep into the hole at short for an infield single. Rodigo, then, stepped to the plate and blasted the ball six feet inside the left-field foul pole to put the Warriors up 5-3.
 
The Warriors would give up one run in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice fly to center field by Elias-Calles, but the Lions would get no closer.
 
Westmont and Vanguard will conclude their series tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m