By Ron Smith
March 6, 2020
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (16-9, 11-3 GSAC) picked up a pair of Golden State Athletic Conference wins today, sweeping the Oaks of Menlo (10-14, 5-8) in a doubleheader at Russ Carr Field. The Warriors won the first game 13-2, scoring in every odd numbered inning, then rallied to take the second game 5-2.
 
Cory Dawson took the mound in the first game, and took at one-hitter into the ninth. A two-run home run with two outs in the ninth by the Oaks' Shane Jones was just the second hit Dawson surrendered and accounted for both Menlo runs. Dawson struck out eight and walked three.
 
Dawson was awarded his fifth win of the year against just one loss.
 
Dante Poleselli came in after the home run and retired the only batter he faced to end the game.
 
Westmont scored a pair of runs in the first inning on a double down the left field line by Isaiah Leach that drove in Travis Vander Molen and Taylor Garcia. Both runners had previously reached on walks.
 
Westmont doubled its advantage in the bottom of the third. Vander Molen scored from third on a wild pitch for the first run. Leach scored from third on a sacrifice fly by Alex Stufft for the second.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Warriors added four more runs to take an 8-0 lead. A two-run home run by Netz put the Warriors up by six before an out was recorded. Garcia drove Netz home on a sacrifice fly to center field. Simon Reid singled through the right side to score Stufft from second.
 
Westmont tacked on five more runs in the seventh inning. A lead-off triple by Stufft was cashed in for a run with an RBI-single to right by Brady Renck. Vander Molen picked up an RBI with a single up the middle, driving in Renck.
 
Later in the inning, a bases-loaded single by Josh Rego drove in Garcia. Netz then singled down the left-field line to score Vander Molen. Lennie Rodriguez completed the scoring with a sacrifice fly to right to score Leach.
 
In the second game, Jameson Kruger pitched his fourth, seven-inning complete game in a row. Kruger gave up two hits and two unearned runs in the second inning, but allowed just two more hits the rest of the way. He struck out seven and walked one. With the win, he is now 4-0 on the season.
 
Over the last four games, Kruger has allowed just two earned runs and 15 hits while striking out 24 and walking seven.
 
Westmont pulled to within one in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back singles by Garcia and Reid gave the Warriors two baserunners. After Devin Perez walked, Netz was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to score Garcia.
 
Menlo retained a 2-1 lead until the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and the bases empty, Drew Bayard was walked. Renck singled up the middle and Bayard took third. Garcia then followed suit with a single up the middle that scored Bayard and moved Renck to third. A wild pitch moved Garcia to second and brought home Renck.
 
After Reid walked, Paul Mezurashi served as a courtesy runner at first. Vander Molen then singled up the middle to drive in Garcia and move Mezurashi to third. An error later allowed Mezurashi to score.
 
Kruger retired the side in order in the top of the seventh to secure the victory.
 
Westmont and Menlo will be back at Russ Carr Field tomorrow for another doubleheader. First pitch is at 11:00 a.m.