Westmont College Athletics

By Ron Smith
February 21, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) It took a dramatic finish in the first game, but #15 Westmont Baseball (10-7, 5-1 GSAC) found a way to take both games in today's Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader with San Diego Christian (8-9, 1-5 GSAC).
 
Westmont scored five runs in the bottom of the 10th inning to overcome a four-run deficit and take the first game 7-6. In the second game, Jameson Kruger pitched a seven-inning shutout, to lead the Warriors to a 3-0 win.
 
The Hawks opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning after Tyler Schindel was hit by the first pitch of the game. Schindel reached second on a wild pitch, then took third when Ryan Culp grounded out to the pitcher. An RBI-single by Ryan Lystlund brought Schindel home.
 
Cory Dawson started for the Warriors and pitched six innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
 
"Dawson was definitely not his best version of himself today," acknowledged Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz. "He had a hard time finding his rhythm, but he did what I would expect someone like him to do – he was poised, controlled and stretched the outing enough to give us a chance to conserve the bullpen and stay in that game. He made big pitches in key situations to keep us in the game. It was a gritty outing from him. He found a way to bear down and compete."
 
San Diego Christian retained its 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth when Simon Reid knotted the game with one swing of the bat. Reid blasted the ball down the right field line and inside the foul pole for his second collegiate home run.
 
"We were struggling to get the bats going. Brock Mosier has been a good pitcher every time we have seen him," noted Ruiz of the Hawks starting pitcher who pitched into the tenth inning. "We knew we were going to be in for a battle with him. He was executing pitches on both sides of the plate and made it difficult on our lefties. He has enough velocity to make everything effective.
 
"Simon did an unreal job getting the barrel up to that pitch and getting us the home run," said Ruiz of his freshman catcher. "Reid is doing a great job. He is getting beat up behind the plate. He is the first guy we have let call his own game in several years. That says a lot about his baseball IQ and how much trust and confidence we have in him. He is going to be a big leader in the future of this program. It is exciting to watch him continue to grow as a player."
 
The top of the sixth saw the Hawks reclaim the lead when Lystlund singled up the middle to drive in Johnny Radomskiy from second.
 
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Warriors rallied to tie the game for a second time. With one away, Travis Vander Molen doubled off the right-center field fence. Devin Perez' single past the first base bag allowed Vander Molen to score without a play at the plate.
 
"Travis had a good day at the plate," expressed Ruiz. "He found a way to be a spark throughout the day, putting together some big at bats."
 
A scoreless seventh, eighth and ninth inning paved the way for an epic tenth. The Hawks put up two runs on a bases-loaded single through the left side by Radomskiy that drove in Lystlund and Payton Berroth.
 
David Blanset followed for the Hawks with another single through the left side of the infield, driving in Thomas Reindl.
 
With men on first and third and no outs, Josh LaMonte hit a tapper back to the mound. Dante Poleselli fielded the ball and threw to Brady Renck who was covering second for the first out. Renck then threw to Vander Molen at first for the second out. With the throw to second, Radomskiy took off for home. Vander Molen fired home to Reid who caught the ball and appeared to tag out Radomskiy to complete the would-be triple play.
 
However, the home plate umpire called Radomskiy safe, despite opinions to the contrary by the Warriors and their fans. A subsequent review of the video, showed that the umpire made the right call. Radomskiy reached around Reid and touched the plate before the catcher could apply the tag, resulting in a 6-2 Hawk lead.
 
Asked about the mood of the dugout in the middle of the tenth, Ruiz responded, "They came in and they didn't seem satisfied with letting it end the way it had just unfolded. We finally got to a place where we were just chipping away to get guys on one guy at a time and not trying to do too much."
 
Alex Stufft doubled down the left field to lead off the inning. That brought up a pinch-hitting Matthew Shults who reached second on an error, moving Stufft over to third.
 
Two outs later, Vander Molen hit a two-RBI single down the right field line, making the score 6-4. After Perez was walked, Daniel Netz singled through the left side to drive in Vander Molen as the third run of the inning and advanced Perez to second.
 
Drew Bayard tied the game at six runs apiece with a single to center that scored Perez and moved Netz to third. After Reid was walked to load the bases, Sage Pera was asked to pinch hit. The sophomore pounded a 2-2 count into left center field for a single. The winning run crossed the plate in the person of Netz. Pera rounded first, stopped in his tracks and awaited a friendly onslaught.
 
As the Warrior dugout rushed toward the latest Warrior hero, Pera threw his helmet in the air and opened his arms as if to welcome the charging crowd of teammates. Pera disappeared into the mass of celebration. By the time the joyous mob dispersed, Pera was missing his shirt.
 
"It was an interesting 10th inning," said Ruiz. "Our guys responded. Whether we won or lost that game, they needed to show that they could respond to that in an important conference game - even if we had only gotten two or three across. To win it, that is what you hope for, especially in the start to a series with your ace on the hill. They were resilient and found a way."
 
In the second game, Kruger took the ball and went the distance for the second start in a row. The junior transfer right-handed hurler allowed just four hits over the seven inning game. He struck out nine and walked three.
 
"We used four arms out of the pen in game one," reflected Ruiz. "Four games in two days makes it tricky managing the bullpen. When you get a guy come in a bear down and give you a complete game, it does a lot for our bullpen tomorrow."
 
Westmont put up three runs in the bottom of the third after Brady Renck led off the inning with a double to right center. A bunt single by Taylor Garcia advanced Renck to third before a wild pitch allowed Renck to score and Garcia to move up to second.
 
One out later, Vander Molen singled to left, advancing Garcia to third. Bayard then delivered an RBI-single through the right side, scoring Garcia and moving Vander Molen to second. A ground ball to third retired Vander Molen at third, leaving Garcia at second and Netz at first. Bayard then scored the final run of the game on an RBI-double to left by Pera.
 
These two teams are scheduled to meet again tomorrow for another doubleheader. Because of the threat of rain, first pitch has been changed to nine o'clock in the morning.