By Ron Smith
January 28, 2018
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (4-0) completed a four-game sweep of Ottawa of Arizona (0-4) by winning both games of a doubleheader at Russ Carr Field. In the opening game, Westmont rallied from a 5-1 deficit to post an 8-7 victory in 10 innings. The Warriors won the second game 11-6 in a game that was called for darkness after five and one-half innings.
 
With two away, Ottawa hitters produced four successive singles in the first inning of the first game. Greg Saenz' picked up an RBI when he singled through the left side to drive in Hayden Durkiewicz.
 
Saenz notched another RBI in the third inning. With runners at first and third Saenz' ground ball to short drove home Esteban Martinez.
 
Westmont's only run in the early going came with bases loaded in the bottom of the third. With one away and runners on the corners, Michael Stefanic sent a ground ball to the Ottawa shortstop. Zack Mendez was thrown out at second on the play for the second out of the inning, but Stefanic beat the throw to first on the attempted double play. Stefanic's hustle allowed Todd Yost to score from third.
 
Ottawa added two more runs in the top of the sixth, the first on a wild pitch and a second on an RBI ground out to short by Chandler Reynard. In the top of the seventh, Durkiewicz scored again, this time on a sacrifice fly to left field by Gabe Rios.
 
Down 5-1 going into the bottom of the seventh, Westmont rallied with five runs to grab the lead. Bryce Morrison led off the inning and was hit by a pitch. A single by Henry Hedeen through the left side advanced Bryce to first before Yost produced an RBI single that drove in Morison and moved Hedeen to second.
 
Tyler Roper was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Mendez. The designated hitter singled into left to drive in Hedeen and make the score 5-3. After a pitching change, Stefanic pounded a double into the gap in right center to drive in Euper, who was running for Roper, and Yost. One out later, Isaiah Leach produced the go ahead run (6-5) with a sacrifice fly to left field.
 
In the top of the eighth, Ottawa recaptured the lead with a pair of runs. The first game on a bases-loaded single by Josh Meyer, the second on a sacrifice fly by Saenz.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Hedeen tied the game at seven with a one-out solo home run over the right field fence.
 
After Ottawa was held scoreless in the top of the ninth, Westmont loaded the bases with one out in the second. However, the Warriors were unable to push the winning run across the plate.
 
In the top of the 10th, Ottawa had runners at first and second with one out when Saenz came up to the plate with an opportunity to drive in his fourth run of the game. The second baseman drove the ball into centerfield for a single. Martinez, who had been on second, rounded third and headed home. However, Morison, the Warriors' centerfielder, fielded the ball and threw a strike to Roper at home. Roper secured the throw and tagged out Martinez for the second out of the inning. After a walk to Rios loaded the bases, relief pitcher Andrew Sim struck out Austin Shumaker to end the threat and preserve the tie.
 
Taylor Garcia led off the top of the 10th for the Warriors as a pinch hitter and was walked. Roper then produced a sacrifice bunt to move Garcia to second base. One out later, Stefanic was intentionally walked, bringing up Luke Coffey. Coffey's walk-off single to left drove in Garcia and brought the three-hour 43-minute game to an end.
 
Sim was credited with the win after pitching the 10th inning. He allowed three hits, walked one and struck out one. Starter Grant Gardner pitched four innings, giving up two runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out one. Ottawa's Devon Lindley was charged with the loss. He pitched two-thirds of an inning giving up one run on one hit and two walks.
 
Game two did not start until 3:15 p.m. With sunset scheduled for 4:59 p.m., Westmont wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the first inning, Garcia led off and singled to left. An error on a pick-off attempt moved Garcia to second before he reached third when Stefanic grounded out to short. After Coffey waked, Leach executed a squeeze bunt with Garcia scoring on the sacrifice.
 
Westmont added a run in the second inning after Hedeen reached on an error, took second on another error and reached third on a pass ball. Two outs later, Austin Muller doubled down the left field line to drive in Hedeen.
 
Westmont sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning in an offensive outburst that saw seven runs come across home plate.  With two away, Robert Mendez single to right field. Euper replaced Mendez on the base pads and promptly stole second. Garcia then single to right, driving in Euper.
 
A walk to Stefanic advanced Garcia to second before bringing up Coffey. Coffey singled to left field driving in Garcia and moving Stefanic to third. A single to left by Leach drove in Stefanic and moved Coffey to second. Morison then doubled to center field, allowing Coffey to score and Leach to reach third.
 
After a walk to Hedeen loaded the bases, Yost, hit a two-RBI single to center field, driving in Leach and Morison and moving Hedeen to third. William Hoyer-Pingle then delivered an infield pinch hit single to drive in Yost.
 
The Warriors added two more runs in their last at bat in the bottom of the fifth. Pinch hitter Trevor Staffireri came up to bat with two away and earned a walk. Euper then came to the plate for his first collegiate plate appearance and drove the first pitch he saw over the fence for a two-run home run.
 
Down 11-0 going into the top of the sixth, the Spirit were awakened and scored six runs to come within five runs. With the score 11-6, the bases loaded and two away, Sean Coyne was asked to come into the game in relief in an unusual save opportunity. Coyne faced just one batter, striking out Meyer on three pitches.
 
Following the strikeout, the game was called for darkness at 5:30 p.m.
 
Justin Sanders pitched the first five innings for the Warriors and was awarded the win. Sanders allowed just two hits while holding Ottawa scoreless. He struck out one and walked three.
 
The Warriors continue the young season on Tuesday when they host the Flames of Bethesda at Russ Carr Field on Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for two o'clock.