By Ron Smith
April 14, 2023
 
(SANTA CLARITA, Calif.) A four run sixth and a six run eighth helped propel #11 Westmont Baseball (33-7, 16-3 GSAC), to a 13-5 Golden State Athletic Conference win over the Mustangs of The Master's.
 
Westmont trailed 4-0 headed into the fifth inning of play when a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Ryan DeSaegher drove in Michael Soper from third to score the Warriors' first run.
 
Westmont's second run came in the top of the sixth when Trey Dunn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and no one out. Westmont pulled to within one when Robbie Haw worked a walk, earning an RBI.
 
That brought up Brady Renck, whose two-RBI single to center gave Westmont a 5-4 lead. Renck went three for four on the day, tallying two RBIs, a walk and a run scored.
 
"The bats continued to be patient," noted Westmont's head coach Tyler LaTorre. "We had a lot of hard hit outs and left runners on base the first five innings before breaking out and taking the lead with a four-run sixth inning."
 
In the top of the seventh, Westmont extended its lead to 7-4 on an RBI double to center by Shane Hofstadler.
 
Renck started off the eighth inning with a walk, then stole second and reached third on an error. DeSaegher then sent the next pitch over the left field fence to score the first two runs of the inning.
 
Finn Snyder drove in the next run with a single to center field that scored Bryce McFeely from second. Then Hofstadler doubled to left, advancing Snyder to third. Dunn then stepped to the plate and powered a three-RBI home run that gave the Warriors a 13-4 advantage.
 
"I love the way we continued to have team at bats to add insurance runs," remarked LaTorre. "DeSaegher and Dunn had two big swings to extend the lead."
 
Westmont starter Bryan Beck was awarded the win, his seventh of the season against just one loss. Peck allowed four runs on six hits. He struck out 10 and walked just one in six innings of work.
 
"Peck gave us 4 big zeros after giving up 4 runs in the first two innings," noted LaTorre.
 
Zach Yates pitched the seventh and eighth innings, allowing one run on one hit. He struck out four and did not surrender a walk. Sam Kim pitched the ninth, allowing one hit but no runs. Kim struck out two and walked one.
 
The two teams will meet again tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.