By Ron Smith
January 29, 2022
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (3-1) swept the Sea Beggars of Providence Christian (0-7) on Saturday afternoon at Russ Carr Field, taking the first game 9-0 and the second 7-3.
 
In the early game, five Warrior pitchers combined to allow just two hits to earn the team shutout. Starter Chad Stoner, Jr. pitched three innings without surrendering a hit. He struck out three and walked three. Sam Kim came on in relief in the top of the fourth. The sophomore allowed one hit, struck out two and walked one in three innings of work. Kim was credited with the win.
 
Zach Yates, Zac Grand and Zac Bridger pitched one inning apiece, collectively allowing one hit, striking out two and walking two.
 
The Warriors put up a single run in the bottom of the first. With Robbie Haw and Brady Renck on third and second base respectively, Thomas Rudinsky hit a ground ball to second that allowed Haw to score.
 
Westmont doubled its lead in the bottom of the third. After Haw drew another lead-off walk and then stole second, Renck was issued a free pass as was Simon Reid after him to fill the bases with Warriors. Rudinsky blistered a ball down the third base line that resulted in Renck being retired at third while Haw scored.
 
The fourth inning saw Westmont added two more runs. Finn Snyder doubled down the left field line with one away before Jonah Paez reach on a walk. One out later, Haw sent a two-RBI triple to deep left center field to bring home Snyder and Paez.
 
The Warriors doubled their lead for the third time when they scored four runs in the seventh. A lead-off pinch-hit single by Parker O'Neil was followed by a single to left by Robbie Haw. Paul Mezurashi, who had re-entered for O'Neil, advanced to third on the play while Haw reached second.
 
Renck then sent a ball to the right side of the infield to record an RBI as Mezurashi scored and Haw took third. With one away, Reid doubled to left, scoring Haw. After Dusty Schraeder came in to pinch run for Reid, Rudinsky doubled down the left field line, moving Schraeder to third. A wild pitch allowed Schraeder to score and Rudinsky to take third. Rudinsky, then scored on a ground out to short by Josh Rego.
 
Westmont's final run came off the bat of Justin Rodrgiuez, courtesy of a home run to left field.
 
Rodriguez went four for four in today's games with a double, a home run and one RBI. Simon Reid was four for six with three doubles, two walks and an RBI.
 
In the afternoon game, Westmont found itself trailing 1-0 after the first half inning, but responded with two runs to capture the lead. Renck was hit by a pitch with one away before Reid singled to right center, advancing Renck to third. Rudinsky reached on a  fielder's choice that retired Reid at second as Renck scored. Running  for Rudinsky, Luke Tillitt stole second, then scored on Rego's single to center field.
 
Westmont added four more in the second inning. Snyder's lead-off walk was followed by a single to right by Rodriguez. Mezurashi reached on a bunt single, but an error allowed Snyder to score and Rodriguez to take third. A sacrifice fly by Haw scored Rodriguez from third for the second run of the inning.
 
After Mezurashi stole second, Renck singled to right, driving in the Warriors' starting center fielder. Renck stole second and then took third after a deep flyout to right field by Reid. The junior second baseman plated the Warriors' sixth run of the game when Rudinsky doubled down the right field line.
 
In the fifth inning, Rodriguez doubled to left center with one away, then took third on a wild pitch. Rodriguez scored when O'Neil grounded out to third.
 
Cameron Phelps started the game on the mound for the Warriors and allowed one run on just two hits in three innings of work. Phelps struck out four and walked two. Eric Oseguera worked the fourth inning for the Warriors and was credited with the win after retiring all three batters he faced, striking out one.
 
Daniel Patterson made is college debut in the fifth inning allowing one run on two hits. In the sixth inning, Adam Sheehan returned to the mound after sitting out all of last year with injury. He struck out two and did not surrender a hit. Haw moved from short to the mound for the final inning of work, allowing one run on one hit, striking out two and walking one.
 
The Warriors will return to action next weekend, hosting a doubleheader with #23 Benedictine Mesa of Arizona (2-3) on Friday and two with Saint Katherine (1-3) on Saturday.