By Ron Smith
March 12, 2021
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (12-10, 5-5 GSAC), ranked #13 in the NAIA, split a doubleheader with the Warriors of William Jessup (13-7, 5-5) today - the first day of a four-game Golden State Athletic Conference series. The Warriors took the first game 8-6 before dropping the second 10-1.
 
In the opener, starter Chad Stoner (2-1) picked up the win. He allowed four runs (two earned) on nine hits in five and two-third innings. Stoner struck out three without issuing a walk.
 
Down 1-0 going into the top of the third, the Warrior took the lead on two of extra-base hits. After Brady Renck tripled to right center, John Jenson powered a home run to right to put the Warriors up 2-1.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, Mike Shoenberger, drove in Jordan Yu on a single to center field, tying the game at two runs each. One inning later, Dustin McElwain doubled to left to drive in Dylan Moser and give Jessup a 3-2 advantage.
 
In the top of the fifth, Westmont took the lead for good. With one away, Renck doubled to center. That brought up Jensen who hit his second home run of the game to right field. One out later, Simon Reid homered to center to put the Warriors up 5-3.
 
The inning continued when Thomas Rudinsky singled to left. Drew Bayard followed with a double to center that drove in Rudinsky. Then Bayard scored on a single to center by Josh Rego, resulting in a 7-3 Warrior lead.
 
Jessup added another run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to three, but Westmont answered in the top of the seventh. Rego singled with two away, stole second and then scored on a fielding error by Jessup.
 
A solo shot by Shoenberger made it an 8-5 score in the seventh and Jessup added another in the eight, but the Warriors from Rocklin would get no closer.
 
Jamie Kruger, who pitched a scoreless inning and two-thirds, was awarded the save. He allowed two hits, struck out three and yielded no walks.
 
The second game was a different story as Westmont was outslugged 12-4. The Warriors' only run came in the top of the fifth. Bayard led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. One out later, Bayard reached third on a passed ball. After Renck walked, Robbie Haw's sacrifice fly to right brought Bayard home.
 
Will Anderson was assigned the loss for the Warriors. He gave up four runs, three earned on seven hits in two and two-third innings.
 
The two teams will go at it again tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.