By Ron Smith
February 1, 2020
 
(GLENDALE, Ariz.) Justin Sanders picked up his first win of the season as #15 Westmont Baseball (2-3) defeated the Mustangs (2-4) of Southwest (N.M.) by a score of 12-2 in the Warriors' final game at the Coach Calderone Invitational in Glendale, Ariz.
 
"It is certainly nice to leave on a positive note," said Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz. "We certainly got progressively better as the weekend went on. That is very important right now.
 
"We are all competitive and get caught up in winning and losing. Early in the season, we have to stay locked in on getting better. I thought we played our best ballgame of the weekend last night, then today, we played better."
 
Sanders pitched six scoreless innings, allowing just three hits while striking out eight and walking one.
 
"Sanders was outstanding and took the team on his back," assessed Ruiz. "He set the tone for the day."
 
Will Anderson pitched the seventh and eighth inning, allowing two runs on four hits. Bailey Reid closed out the ninth inning. He faced just three batters without allowing a hit.
 
Offensively, Warrior bats pounded out 13 hits. Nine different Warriors were credited with at least one hit, led by freshman shortstop Brady Renck who went three for three at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.
 
"Our hitters bounced back," noted Ruiz. "We have been struggling to score runs. Today, we got scrappy, dug in the box and battled. It paid off and we found a way to consistently score runs."
 
The Warriors started the scoring in the first inning after lead-off hitter Taylor Garcia reached on an error. When left fielder Daniel Netz singled to left, Garcia made it to third with Netz taking second on the throw to try and retire Garcia. First baseman Travis Vander Molen then sent a ground ball to second that allowed Garcia to score.
 
The score remained 1-0 until Westmont put up two runs in the top of the fourth. After third baseman Alex Stufft singled through the left side of the infield, Renck laid down a bunt single, giving the Warriors men at first and second with no outs.
 
A wild pitch allowed both runners to attempt to advance 90 feet. The Mustang's catcher attempted to throw out Renck at second, but the ball went into center field, allowing Stufft to score and Renck to take third. Catcher Matthew Shults stepped to the plate and drove in Renck with a sacrifice fly to left.
 
Westmont more than doubled its advantage in the fifth inning, scoring four runs to go ahead 7-0. A two-run home run by right fielder Devin Perez got the ball rolling for the Warriors. Designated hitter Isaiah Leach doubled to left, then advanced to third when center fielder Andrew Bayard flied out to right. Renck's singled up the middle brought home Leach.
 
"I'm happy for the weekend for Devin," expressed Ruiz. "He is coming into his own as a contributor for this team. He had poise as a hitter and stayed even this weekend in success and failure."
 
Renck stole second before an unusual play allowed him to score the fourth run of the inning. On ball four to Shults, Renck attempted to steal third. The throw from the catcher went down the third baseline allowing Renck to score and Shults to take third.
 
Garcia scored the eighth run for the Warriors in the eighth inning. After beating out an infield single, Garcia stole second. On a deep fly out by Vander Molen to left field, Garcia attempted to advance to third. The relay from the Mustang's shortstop went wide of the mark and Garcia trotted home when the ball entered the Warrior dugout.
 
In the bottom half of the eighth, the Mustangs strung together three hits to score two runs on a single down the right field line by John Magruder.
 
Already up 8-2 going into the top of the ninth, Westmont put up four more runs, largely with the help of pinch hitters. After a one-out walk by Bayard, Zack Mendez pinch hit and was hit by the pitch. Taylor Jennings pinch hit next and delivered an RBI-single through the left side to score Bayard and move Mendez to second.
 
"It was a big at bat for TBJ, his first of the season," said Ruiz. "He works hard, pouring his heart and soul into being ready for this team. He got his only at bat in the ninth inning of the last game, but it didn't surprise me that he was ready. It was good to see that out of him."
 
Next, Shults singled through the right side to score Mendez and advance Jennings to third. A single by Garcia to left drove in both Jennings and Shults.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Reid took the mound and promptly struck out the first batter, Brent Thompson. After Carlos Narvaez was hit by a pitch, Reid coaxed Luis Castillo into a ground ball up the middle. Renck fielded the ball, stepped on second and fired to first to complete the double-play and end the game.
 
The Warriors return to Santa Barbara for a week's worth of classes before taking the field for games next weekend. On Friday, Westmont will host Oklahoma Wesleyan (3-0) in a doubleheader. Then on Saturday, the Warriors will host Indiana Kokomo (0-0) in another twin bill. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on both days.