By Ron Smith
January 21, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Senior Travis Vander Molen, who saw much of his playing time limited in the 2019 season due to injury, started this year off on the right foot by blasting two home runs over the right field fence in today's season opener against Marymount. Westmont, the fifteenth-ranked team in the NAIA, prevailed 5-3 over the Mariners of Marymount California (0-1).
 
By design, both teams sent seven pitchers to the mound, limiting each to one or two innings of work. Cory Dawson and Justin Sanders pitched the first two innings for the Warriors with each retiring the side in order. Sanders used just 11 pitches in his one inning of work.
 
In the bottom of the first, Taylor Garcia led off with a single to center field. One out later, Isaiah Leach doubled to drive in the game's first run. That brought up Vander Molen who put Westmont on top 3-0 with his first home run.
 
The Mariners scored a single run in the fourth and fifth innings to move to within one. Jesus Espinoza led off the fourth with a home run. Then in the fifth, John Muratore scored from third on an infield ground ball by Ryan Aguirre.
 
Vander Molen led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo shot that restored Westmont's advantage to two. On the day, Vander Molen went three for three at the plate and was walked. The first baseman drove in three runs and scored twice.
 
In the top of the sixth, Marymount scored an unearned run when Hugo Garcia reached on an error that allowed Dante Castillo to score from second, making the score 4-3.
 
The Mariners threatened again in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with just one away. However, Westmont's Dante Poleselli struck out Christos Tountas and coaxed Ivan Cruz into popping up to second to end the threat and preserve the Warrior lead.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Westmont added an insurance run after loading the bases with no outs. Daniel Netz sent a deep ball to left-center field that allowed Jeremiah Canada to score from third on the sacrifice fly.
 
With one away and a man at first in the top of the eighth, Poleselli and freshman catcher Simon Reid combined for a strike-'em-out-throw-'em-out double play to end the inning.
 
In the top of the ninth, the Mariners threatened again with men on second and third and one out. Westmont closer Bailey Reid, however, struck out the next two batters to end the game and claim his first save of the year.
 
Westmont will make its first road trip of the year to participate in the Coach Calderone Invitational in Glendale, Arizona. The Warriors will take on Taylor (Ind.) on Thursday, January 30. The next day, Westmont will play both Antelope Valley and #19 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). On Saturday, February 1, the Warriors will take on Southwest (N.M.).