By Ron Smith
February 8, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (5-4) split a doubleheader with Indiana Kokomo (2-2) at Russ Carr Field on Saturday. With yesterday's sweep of #13 Oklahoma Wesleyan, the Warriors went three of four on the weekend.
 
In the early game, Westmont put up seven runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth on its way to a 13-1 victory. Starting pitcher Justin Sanders was credited with his second win of the season after allowing just one run and seven hits in six innings of work. Sanders struck out six and walked just one.
 
Eric Olson, Dylan Sund and Alex Stufft worked one inning each, combining to keep the Cougars from adding to their run total while allowing just one hit.
 
Indiana Kokomo scored its lone run in the top of the first on a sacrifice fly by Austin Weiler that drove in Mark Goudy.
 
In the bottom of the second, Westmont took advantage of the first two batters – Isaiah Leach and Drew Bayard - being hit by a pitch. After Brady Renck reached on a fielder's choice that retired Leach at third, both Renck and Bayard advanced on a wild pitch.
 
With men at second and third and none away, Stufft, who was the third baseman at the time, singled to center field to drive in both Bayard and Renck.
 
Neither team scored again until Westmont exploded for seven runs in the fifth. The first run came on a double by Travis Vander Molen that scored Garcia from second. The second run was the result of a bases-loaded walk to Bayard.
 
A wild pitch allowed Vander Molen to score the third run of the inning. Zack Mendez, who was pinch hitting, picked up an RBI on the fourth run of the inning that was the product of another bases-loaded walk.
 
Sage Pera, also pinch hitting, recorded an infield single to drive in Bayard before Taylor Garcia was hit by a pitch to the helmet, allowing Renck to score.
 
The final run of the inning came on another wild pitch that brought Mendez home.
 
With two outs and nobody on, the Warriors produced a rally to score four more runs in the sixth. Bayard was hit by a pitch, then stole second. Renck then singled to center. When the ball got passed the center fielder, Bayard scored and Renck reached third.
 
Stufft drove Renck in with a single to left field before Matthew Shults' single to left advanced Stufft to second. With Paul Mezurashi serving as a courtesy runner for Shults, Garcia doubled to deep left center, bringing home both runners.
 
In the second game, which was scheduled for seven innings, starting pitcher Ryan Humphreys was charged with the loss despite a strong performance. Humphreys allowed two runs on six hits over five and one-third innings. He struck out 10 and walked three.
 
Westmont scored in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Garcia and Daniel Netz were walked before Vander Molen was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Devin Perez then delivered a sacrifice fly to left field to score Garcia.
 
The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth. Drew Barber's single to center field drove in Eston Stull from second to tie the game.
 
What proved to be the game winning run was a solo, lead-off home run to right by Weiler in the top of the sixth.
 
Warrior pitcher Dante Poleselli was called upon to finish off the sixth inning and helped the Warriors escape with no further damage. Bailey Reid pitched the seventh, striking out the side to keep Westmont within one.
 
The bottom of the seventh looked promising for the Warriors when Stufft received a lead-off walk. Simon Reid, who had entered the game in the top half of the inning to catch for his brother, sent a screaming line drive down the right field line. However, the Cougars' first baseman was positioned to snag the missile since he had been holding on Stufft at first. The result was a double play.
 
Garcia came up with the bases empty and also made good contact. However, his line drive went directly to the third baseman and ended the game.
 
Tuesday, the Warriors will host the Cougars of Colorado Christian (3-1) at Russ Carr Field. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.