By Ron Smith
February 29, 2020
 
(SANTA CLARITA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (14-9, 9-3 GSAC) split Saturday's doubleheader with The Master's (14-9. 5-7) to take three out of four games from the Mustangs in the road series. With the first third of the GSAC season in the books, #15 Westmont sits in first place in the GSAC standings with a two-game lead over Vanguard (16-6, 5-3) and Hope International (14-8, 7-5).
 
Like they have in so many of their games this season, Westmont battled back from a 3-1 deficit to win the first game.
 
In the top of the first, Westmont catcher Matthew Shults produced a one-out single. With Paul Mezurashi serving as a courtesy runner for Shults, Travis Vander Molen reached on an error that advanced Mezurashi to third. One out later, Devin Perez delivered an infield single to drive Mezurashi home.
 
In the bottom of the second, however, the Mustangs responded and put the Warriors in a 3-1 hole. The Mustangs scored one run off a bases-loaded walk and two off a bases-loaded single by Nick Tuttle.
 
Westmont cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the third when Vander Molen singled to right field to drive in Taylor Garcia. The Warriors' shortstop had been hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then reached second on a passed ball.
 
In the top of the fourth, Westmont retook the lead on a two-RBI double by Brady Renck that drove in Alex Stufft and Perez. Perez had reached on a lead-off infield single, then took third on a double by Stufft to right-center.
 
The score remained 4-3 in favor of the Warriors until the Mustangs scored an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth. An RBI-groundout by Roy Verdejo allowed Will Batz to score from third and tie the game.
 
Westmont's game winner came in the top of the ninth. A lead-off single to right by Drew Bayard was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Stufft that advanced the runner to second. Renck then reached on an error by the second baseman that allowed Bayard to score.
 
Justin Sanders (4-0) started for the Warriors but did not figure in the decision. Sanders pitched six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out five and walked one.
 
Will Anderson (1-0) pitched the seventh and eighth innings and earned the win. Sanders allowed one run on one hit and struck out one without issuing a walk.
 
Bailey Reid picked up his third save of the year by pitching a scoreless ninth. He did not give up a hit and recorded one strikeout.
 
In the second game, which was scheduled for seven innings, Westmont was held scoreless until the seventh when Devin Perez hit a solo home run with one away. It was Perez' third home run in the series.
 
Kody McLain started the game for the Warriors and pitched two scoreless innings allowing three hits, striking out one and walking one. McLain pitched his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, then retired the side in order in the second.
 
Ryan Humphreys took the loss for the Warriors. He allowed three runs on three hits, struck out three and walked four.
 
Westmont will play at home next weekend, taking on the Oaks of Menlo in a four-game series beginning on Friday.