By Jacob Norling
March 5, 2021
 
(FULLERTON, Calif.) #13 Westmont (10-7, 4-2 GSAC) couldn't make up for their defensive shortcomings in either game against Hope International (12-6, 7-3), ultimately dropping both games of Friday's Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader. Westmont was outslugged in game one, losing 16-13, and then held at bay in game two, falling 15-1.
 
In game one the Warriors bats tried, but couldn't make up for the sloppy defense that put the Royals up big early.
 
Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz said, "We weren't focused enough in the first game on defense. We were on our heels and the game sped up on us. It caught us unprepared to execute simple plays, plays that we have to be prepared for."
 
In the first inning, Westmont starter Chad Stoner had to labor due to a leadoff error behind him, and allowed two unearned runs in the opening frame. Westmont came back with a run in the second then four in third highlighted by a two-run double by Josh Rego, which gave the club their first lead of the day. But in the bottom of the third inning Westmont's defense gave the lead back for good.
 
After entering the bottom of the third leading 5-2, the Warriors committed five errors and surrendered nine runs to the Royals, trailing Hope at the end of the inning 11-5. Stoner, who did not get out of the third inning, was tagged with the loss although he only surrendered two earned runs, ten in total.
 
Westmont continued to try and claw back into the game, getting as close as they would all game after Zack Mendez hit a three-run home run to pull the Warriors within two in the sixth.
 
Westmont committed their seventh and eighth errors of the game in the following half inning, allowing the Royals to tack on another run. Hope International pulled away late with a three-run homerun by reigning GSAC player of the week, Brennan McKenzie. McKenzie tormented Westmont pitching in game one, reaching in all five plate appearances while driving in five runs as well.
 
Westmont rallied in the late innings, with John Jensen hitting his second home run of the day in the ninth to pull the Warriors within three. But ultimately the nine unearned runs allowed by the Warriors proved too much to overcome, as they dropped the first half of the doubleheader, 16-13.
 
In game two, more of the same haunted the Warriors on defense early. Thirty minutes removed from an eight-error game one, the Warriors committed a throwing error following a double to the first Royals batter of game two.
 
Westmont starter Jamie Kruger allowed two runs in the first inning, and was ultimately charged with eight earned runs in 2.2 innings of work. In the third inning, Hope International pulled out of reach due to an ever rare inside-the-park grand slam.
 
With the Warriors already trailing 5-1, Hope International loaded the bases with two outs for Robert Mattei. Coach Ruiz elected to not have Kruger face Mattei for a second time and went to the bullpen for Bradley Heacock.
 
Mattei worked a full count against Heacock then skied a ball to deep center field that sent Drew Bayard back to the wall. Bayard timed his jump and had the ball inside the webbing of his glove, but as Bayard crashed into the wall on his way down the ball popped out, and Bayard was slow to get up following the collision. All three runners scored, followed by Mattei without a throw, and the inside-the-park grand slam all but ended the Warriors chances at a split on Friday.
 
The Warriors recorded only four hits in game two, and struck out 14 times.
 
Coach Ruiz said, "We are a better team than we showed today. We gave way too much away and when you do that to a good team like Hope, you get the outcome we got today. We need to lock in on having a better process start to finish. Tomorrow is a chance to hit the reset button and get some things right."
 
The two teams play another doubleheader on Saturday, with first pitch of game one scheduled for 11:00 AM. Due to state and local mandates spectators will not be permitted to attend in person. However, fans can tune in live on the Hope International website.