By Ron Smith
February 11, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In the Warriors' final non-conference game before the start of Golden State Athletic Conference play, Westmont Baseball head coach Robert Ruiz decided to send a series of different pitchers to the mound to get some experience. Despite a 4-3 extra-inning loss, Ruiz was happy with what he saw from his hurlers.
 
"We threw nine different guys, many of whom have not pitched much in college yet," said Ruiz. "In an 11 inning ballgame, we only walked three batters and we minimized situations that could have gotten out of hand by keeping runners left on base. Overall, I thought our pitchers did very well.
 
"I was really impressed with Gabe Arteaga. In his second inning of college baseball he looked really good facing a good offensive line-up in Colorado Christian."
 
Arteaga struck out the side in order in the sixth inning.
 
"Adam Sheehan got his first college inning and put up a zero," noted Ruiz. "The pitchers did more than enough to give us every opportunity to win that game.
 
"If I have to evaluate the game, we were not good enough offensively to win a baseball game today," assessed Ruiz. "That is something that we would like to focus on improving. We have more than enough talent. We just need to get some things clicking and when we do, I believe this group will thrive. I believe in them as a program and as a team. I think these are some of the growing pains we have with some youth in our program. We just have to learn what it takes to win close ball games.
 
"We have been provided so many opportunities in our non-conference season to learn some really important lessons," continued Ruiz. "The most important thing is that we don't miss the lesson. If we are taking those things, digesting them and using them to get better, we will become who we need to become at the most important part of our season."
 
The Cougars got on the board in the top of the second inning after Michael Spain reached first on a lead-off single. A double by Blake Mattey sent Spain to second. He then scored on a ground ball by Connor Marschall to short.
 
Colorado Christian scored its second run on a lead-off homer by Zayne Willems.
 
Westmont scored all three of its runs in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Garcia reached on a lead-off walk before Devin Perez knocked the ball over the fence for a two-run home run. With no outs, Travis Vander Molen doubled to deep center field. A single by Simon Reid brought Vander Molen home.
 
In the top of the eighth, Spain drove in Matt Kimura from third with a single to center. Kimura had reached on a lead-off double down the right field line, then stole third.
 
Westmont enters conference play next weekend when it travels to Rocklin to take on the Warriors of #14 William Jessup (11-2). As is standard with GSAC play, the two teams will meet up for a doubleheader on Friday and play two on Saturday as well.
 
"We are excited going into conference," said Ruiz. "Our starting pitching has already taken some strives, our bullpen is getting stronger and we are figuring out how to get more cohesive as a defensive unit. We have shown some spurts of the ability to be a really good offense. When we get that firing on all cylinders, I think we will be a really good team. I know one thing, our guys will show up ready to compete on Friday against a good Jessup team. I am looking forward to the opportunity to go compete in their yard."