By Ron Smith
February 3, 2018
 
(PHOENIX) Westmont Baseball (7-1, 2-1 GSAC) completed three games while starting only two on Saturday. At the end of the day, Westmont had taken two out of three from Arizona Christian (6-4, 1-2).
 
The morning began by concluding yesterday's suspended game. In the top of the 12th inning, Westmont nearly scored on a squeeze play. Travis Vander Molen laid down a bunt, but Todd Yost was thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning.
 
A single by Todd Roper loaded the bases for Westmont, but Arizona Christian pitcher Steven Butts, struck out Taylor Garcia to retire the side.
 
Three pitches into the bottom of the second, Arizona Christian lead-off hitter Nicholas McCormick deposited the ball over the left-centerfield fence to give the Firestorm the win.
 
The Warriors took their revenge, however, by claiming both ends of the regularly scheduled doubleheader. In the early game, Westmont  tallied 14 hits to post a 12-5 win. In the nightcap, the Warriors used a five-run fourth to record an 8-5 victory.
 
Westmont starting pitcher Grant Gardner earned the win in the first game by allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits in eight innings of work. Gardner struck out six and walked four.
 
With no score after three, Westmont put up four runs in the top of the fourth. With one away, Taylor Bush walked on four pitches and then advanced to second on a single through the left side by Michael Stefanic. Luke Coffey's single to left loaded the bases.
 
One out later, Yost singled up the middle, driving in Bush and Stefanic and advancing Coffey to second. Henry Hedeen was walked to reload the bases with Warriors before Roper stepped into the batter's box.
 
Roper singled through the left side, driving in both Coffey and Yost.
 
After Arizona Christian scored one run in the bottom of the fourth, Westmont tacked on two runs in the top of the fifth to go up 6-1. Garcia produced a lead-off single and then stole second base. Bush tripled to left-center to drive in Garcia. Bush scored on a single through the right side by Stefanic.
 
The Firestorm pulled to within four runs by scoring a single run in the bottom of the sixth, but Westmont's six-run eighth put the game out of reach.
 
Once again, Garcia led off with a single and stole second base. Bush reached on a walk and one out later Coffey was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
 
Isaiah Leach produced a two-RBI single through the left side to drive in Bush and Garcia and move Coffey to second. Yost drove in Coffey with a single to left that advanced Leach to second.
 
With two away, Roper bunted and reached on a throwing error. Leach scored on the play, Yost took third and Roper made his way to second. William Hoyer-Pingle reached on another error that allowed both Yost and Hayden Euper, who was running for Roper, to score.
 
The second game saw starter Toby Dunlap pick up his second win of the year in his second start. Dunlap pitched six and two-third innings of the seven-inning game, giving up five runs on 10 hits. He struck out six and walked four.
 
Westmont took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third inning on a two-RBI single up the middle by Coffey. Garcia and Bush scored on the play. Garcia had reached on a walk and Bush by virtue of a single to right.
 
After Arizona Christian scored a single run in the bottom of the third, the Warriors scored five times in the top of the fourth.
 
Hedeen led off with a single to right and advanced to second when Roper was hit with a pitch. After Euper replaced Roper on the base pads, a sacrifice bunt by Hoyer-Pingle advanced both runners one base.
 
Garcia singled to right center, driving in Hedeen and moving Euper to third. Euper scored on a sacrifice fly by Bush.
 
A single by Stefanic allowed Garcia to score before bringing Coffey to the plate. Coffey delivered his second home run of the year to left field.
 
Westmont added one more run in the sixth inning on a solo home run by Stefanic to left, which was also his second of the year.
 
Next week, Westmont will take on La Sierra in a non-conference game on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. Then on Friday and Saturday, the Warriors will welcome Vanguard to Russ Carr Field for a three-game series.