By Ron Smith
March 25, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (20-7-3, 12-1-1 PacWest) extended its lead in the PacWest standings and stretched its winning streak to 10 by taking both ends of a doubleheader with Hawai'i Hilo (14-22, 7-15). The Warriors claimed the opener at Russ Carr Field by a score of 11-3, then won the second game 10-1.
 
Westmont wasted no time getting its offense rolling, scoring four runs in the first inning of game one. Daniel Patterson led off the bottom half of the inning with a solo home run over the left field fence. After Jack Bollengier and Bryce McFeely received back-to-back walks, Michael Soper singled through the left side to load the bases.
 
One out later, Liam Critchett sent a sacrifice fly into left field, allowing Bollengier to score the Warriors' second run. McFeely and Soper each advanced a base on the play. Trey Dunn stepped to the plate next and drove a ground ball up the middle past a diving Vulcan shortstop for a two-RBI single.
 
Westmont maintained its 4-0 lead until the bottom of the fifth inning when Dunn came up to the plate with the bases loaded and two away. Dunn didn't get a hit this time but he was hit by a pitch, resulting in his third RBI of the game.
 
The Vulcans scored three times in the top of the sixth to pull within two (5-3). The scoring came on a pair of doubles, a walk, an error and a sacrifice fly.
 
The Warriors used the bottom of the sixth to add two more runs to their total, making it a 7-3 game. A pair of singles by Colin Callahan and Bollengier resulted in runners on the corners with one away. McFeely took a pitch to the arm to load the bases before a wild pitch allowed Callahan to score and both other runners to advance a base. Soper then produced a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home Bollengier from third.
 
Westmont added four more runs in the bottom of the eighth. For the second time in the game, Patterson led off the inning with a solo home run. It was Patterson's team-leading, 10th home run of the season. Six of his home runs have come as lead-off homers and four of those six have been in the Warriors' first at bat of the game.
 
The bottom of the eight continued with a single by Bollengier, followed by a walk to McFeely. Both runners advanced when a pick-off attempt at second was thrown into the dirt and skidded away into center field. Then, with two away, Bollengier scored on a wild pitch while McFeely took third. That brought up Critchett who pounded a fly ball over the right-field netting for his fourth home run of the year.
 
Bryan Peck picked up his sixth win of the year and his fourth in as many starts. The junior right-hander allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out four.
 
Joey Rico had his best performance of the year, earning a save by pitching three scoreless innings. He gave up three hits and struck out six.
 
Ryan Humphreys took the mound for the Warriors in game two and earned his fourth win of the season. Humphreys pitched five scoreless innings, giving up four hits. In the process, he tied his career strikeout record with 10.
 
Humphreys ran into a bit of trouble in the top of the fourth when the Vulcans occupied all three bases with just one out. However, the senior left-hander struck out the next two batters to eliminate the threat and preserve the Warriors' lead, which was 7-0 at the time.
 
Caden Beloian took over for Humphreys in the sixth inning of the seven-inning game. In two innings of work, Beloian gave up one run on four hits, struck out one and did not surrender a walk.
 
Just as they had in the first game, the Warriors put up runs in the first inning of the nightcap. With one away, Bollengier reached base courtesy of being hit by a pitch. McFeely took his place at first on a fielder's choice that saw Bollengier retired at second.
 
After McFeely stole second, Soper drove in the first run of the game with a single to center. Jaden Mingus followed with a single through the left side that advanced Soper to second. That brought up Tanner Beltowski who pounded a two-run triple into left field, giving Westmont a 3-0 advantage.
 
Westmont added two more in the bottom of the second, the result of a two-RBI single to center by Soper. Soper drove in Grant Yzermans, who had led off with a double to right, and McFeely who had reached via a base on balls.
 
In the top of the third, Westmont added two more. Beltowski provided the first tally on a lead-off home run. Then Callahan walked and stole second before Tyler McEvoy singled down the left-field line to drive in Callahan.
 
Another run was added to the Warriors' score in the bottom of the fourth. After McFeely produced a lead-off single and then stole second, Mingus drove him home with a single to right. McFeely had four stolen bases on the day - three in the second game - and leads the Warriors with nine pilfered pillows on the season.
 
Westmont scored their final two runs in the sixth inning. Soper delivered a lead-off double to left field before Finn Snyder was called upon to pinch hit. Snyder sent the first pitch he saw directly over the 375-foot sign in center field for a two-run home run.
 
The Warriors and Vulcans will meet again tomorrow for another doubleheader to conclude their season series. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.