By Ron Smith
May 15, 2018
 
(HATTIESBURG, Calif.) The 2018 Westmont Baseball season came to an end in game four of the NAIA Opening Round Tournament Hattiesburg Bracket. A seven-run eighth inning by the Pilots of Louisiana State Shreveport (40-21) resulted in an 8-7 loss for the Warriors who finished the season with a record of 34-18.
 
Starting pitcher David Gaydos pitched masterfully, allowing just one run on four hits through seven innings. Meanwhile, the Warriors offense kicked in with Westmont scoring four runs in the top of the third.
 
"I don't think you can ask for anything more out of Gaydos," said Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz. "That was his best start of the season. With our backs against the wall after a tough first day, we really needed him to step up. We got everything we could have hoped for out of him.
 
"Knowing what he has been through this year shows a lot about his heart, his character, his perseverance and the fight he has in him.
 
"I have a lot of respect for him as a human being. After starting out so poorly this year and struggling as much as he did, he fought himself back to being our best pitcher in this tournament. I certainly have a lot of respect for him and what he has poured into this program over four years."
 
Westmont nearly scored in the top of the second but a bizarre incident prevented any runs from crossing the plate. With one out, center fielder Bryce Morrison singled to right. One out later, left fielder Brodie Weiss doubled down the left field line. Morrison was waved home as he rounded third. Just ten feet from third, however, Morrison collided with home plate umpire Scott McMurrian who was running up the baseline from home. Morrison stumbled but continued to try and reach home plate. The delay from the collision, however, resulted in his being thrown out at the plate.
 
McMurrian fell and remained on his back for several minutes, attended to by an athletic trainer. He was eventually helped to a sitting position but when he later tried to stand, was wobbly on his feet. McMurrian left the game and did not return. There was a 25 minute delay in the game while another umpire prepared to take his place behind the plate.
 
"I feel for the guy and hope that he is okay," said Ruiz. "It's an unfortunate situation. I've coached for 14 season of college baseball and played for four and have never seen that happen. I don't understand why the umpire is in the baseline in the first place and how he runs into our guy. I don't think they got the ruling wrong, I just think it is a travesty that the umpire is that much out of position that he would impact the game in the way that he did. I am appreciative that they went to the rulebook and made sure they were ruling correctly."
 
Because the umpire is considered a part of the field, there was no remedy available for the Warriors under the rules.
 
Once play resumed, Gaydos put up a scoreless bottom of the second before the Warriors scored four times in the top of the third. First baseman Travis Vander Molen started the inning with a single to right center. Vander Molen reached second when right fielder Taylor Garcia produced an infield single to give the runs two on with no outs. A pass ball allowed both runners to advance one base. One out later, second baseman Michael Stefanic singled between second and first to drive in Vander Molen and advance Garcia to third. Third baseman Luke Coffey then stepped to the plate and deposited a three-RBI home run over the left field fence.
 
Westmont added another run in the fifth inning to go ahead 5-0. With one away, Stefanic was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a passed ball. After Coffey walked, designated hitter Henry Hedeen drove in Stefanic with a single to center.
 
The Pilots score once in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI-double by Matthew Hammock to right-center field. As a result, Westmont held a 5-1 lead.
 
In the top of the eighth, Westmont stretched its advantage to 7-1. With one out, Vander Molen was awarded first base after being hit by a pitch. With Justin McPhail pinch running for Vander Molen, Garcia was also hit by a pitch, giving the Warriors men on first and second. A passed ball advanced both runners one base.
 
Tyler Roper was called upon to execute a squeeze play. Roper's successful bunt allowed McPhail to score and Garcia to reach third. Garcia would later score on a sacrifice fly to center field by Stefanic.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, however, proved to be the Warriors' undoing. A lead-off home run by Robert Herrera was the first of seven runs for the Pilots. Shreveport would benefit from five hits, including a double and a home run, and three walks.
 
Gaydos, who received a no-decision, pitched seven-plus innings, allowing four runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked two. Lance Simpson would be charged with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in one inning of play.
 
"Lance had a tough day today," acknowledged Ruiz, "but without the season he had for us this year, we are not even in this tournament.
 
"We have a lot of guys that are leaving this program today that have poured a lot into this program. They have accomplished more than they probably should have. But they believe in our team and they believe in Westmont and what we stand for. They have been a tremendous group. What they have been able to do is commendable in so many ways. They have earned their degrees and have gotten themselves into the national tournament three of the last four years.
 
Guys like Michael Stefanic and David Gaydos and Lance Simpson were unbelievable players, leaders and contributors over the past four years. I love those guys and they know it. At the end of the game, those guys have a family in Westmont Baseball that will be here for them for life. They are a part of this family and have helped build it. It is hard to see them go, but when you are doing things the right way, it should be hard to see your guys go."