By Ron Smith
February 24, 2023
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (11-5, 2-2 GSAC), ranked 13th in the NAIA, opened up its three-game series at Menlo with a 6-4 win on Friday afternoon at Cartan Field.
 
The Warriors got on the scoreboard in the top of the third with a two-out rally. Trey Dunn, hitting in the nine hole, singled to right for the Warriors' first hit of the day. Dunn advanced to second when Michael Soper walked.
 
That brought up Brady Renck whose single through the right side of the infield drove in Dunn and advanced Soper to third. Robbie Haw reached as the result of an error by the Menlo shortstop that also allowed Soper to score.
 
Westmont added three more runs in the top of the fourth. Parker O'Neil led off the inning with a single into center field. When Shane Hofstadler singled to left, O'Neil advanced to second. With Jack Fletcher serving as a courtesy runner for Hofstadler, Justin Rodriguez doubled down the right field line, driving in both runners. Rodriguez advanced to third when Dunn flew out to right field, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Soper to center.
 
In the sixth, Westmont made it a 6-0 game after Hofstadler was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Once again, Fletcher came in to run for the catcher. Fletcher reached second on a wild pitch, then took third when Dunn flew out to deep left-center field. Fletcher scored on a hard-hit ground ball by Soper.
 
Bryan Peck (3-1) picked up the win for the Warriors. He took a no-hitter into the seventh before surrendering a run on two hits. In seven and two-thirds innings, Peck gave up four runs on seven hits. He struck out 10 and walked two.
 
Gabe Arteaga struck out the only batter he faced in the eighth to get the Warriors out of a jam in the eighth.
 
Carlos Moreno earned his third save of the season by retiring the side in order in the ninth – two by strikeouts.
 
The Warriors and Oaks will meet up again on Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.