By Ron Smith
March 6, 2021
 
(FULLERTON, Calif.) Westmont Baseball, ranked at number 13 in the NAIA, dropped two games to #23 Hope International on Saturday. The Royals claimed the first game 5-4 and won the second 11-5.
 
The first three innings of the opener remained scoreless before Hope International scored twice in the bottom of the fourth, aided by a couple of Warriors errors.
 
In the top of the sixth, Westmont pulled within one on a single by Drew Bayard that scored Alex Stufft from second. Stufft had led off the inning with a single through the left side, then advanced to second on a ground out by Simon Reid.
 
The Royals scored two more in the bottom of the sixth, the result of a pair of singles, an error on a pick-off attempt and a passed ball.
 
Westmont evened the score at four runs apiece in the top of the seventh. Devin Perez produced a lead-off home run for the first run. Two outs later, John Jensen walked before Stufft sent the ball out of the park for a two-run home run.
 
The Royal's winning run came in the bottom of the seventh. After back-to-back singles, the Warriors turned a double play when Brady Renke snagged a line drive to short and fired to Parker O'Neil at second to retire the lead runner. However, Dominic Campeau, Jr. came to the plate to pinch hit for the Royals and doubled to left field driving in Domenic Riggio.
 
Gabe Arteaga started on the mound for the Warriors, giving up four runs (two earned) in five innings of work. He struck out two and walked two. Will Anderson, who was charged with the loss, gave up one run on four hits in three innings. Anderson struck out two and walked one.
 
In the second game, a two-run home run by Dominic Donato in the bottom of the second gave the Royals an early lead.

The Warriors wasted no time responding, scoring three runs in the top of the second. With one away, Ryan Desaegher doubled to center field. Perez followed with a single through the right side that drove in Desaegher.
 
Thomas Rudinsky continued the offensive effort with a single to left, advancing Perez to second. A groundout by Renck advanced Perez to second and Paul Mezurashi, who was running for Rudinsky, to second. Both runners scored on a single to center by O'Neil.
 
Westmont added two more runs in the top of the third to take a 5-2 lead. After Bayard was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Reid doubled to right center, advancing Bayard to third. A single by Desaegher scored Bayard and moved Reid to third. Reid then scored on a passed ball.
 
A three-run bottom of the third and a five-run bottom of the fourth gave the Royals a five-run advantage. Hope International added one more in the bottom of the fifth. The Warriors were held scoreless the rest of the way.
 
Ryan Humphreys pitched the first three innings and took the loss. He gave up six runs on four hits, struck out four and walked five.
 
The Warriors return to action on Tuesday when they host the Cougars of Azusa Pacific at Russ Carr Field.
 
Due to state and local mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, spectators are not permitted to attend Westmont athletic events. Fans can follow the action by accessing the Westmont Sports Broadcast at https://athletics.wesmont.edu/video or through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV or Roku.