By Ron Smith
April 23, 2024
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In its final home game of the 2024 season, #15 Westmont Baseball (32-12-3) posted a 6-3 win over Hope International (35-12) in a non-conference game at Russ Carr Field. The Royals are currently ranked 12th in the NAIA.
 
Josh Hickey, a freshman right-hander from Yucaipa, started the game and earned his first collegiate win. Hickey pitched the first two innings, retiring the side in order in both. Because of the pre-arrangement rule (10.25.b.3), Hickey was not required to go the normal five innings to earn the win.
 
The Warriors "staffed" the game using eight pitchers. Cam Staton relieved Hickey and also gave Westmont two scoreless and hitless innings. Manny Soto, Sam Kim, Daniel Patterson, Aidan Holly, Tanner Beltowski and Zach Yates all took the mound for the Warriors. Yates earned his 10th save of the year by pitching the ninth. He, too, retired the side in order.
 
Westmont recorded its first run in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded, two away and Grant Yzermans at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Beltowski to score from third.
 
The Warriors added two more in the bottom of the third. Isaac Veal led off and reached first when he was hit by a pitch. Then, Michael Soper doubled to right center, moving Veal to third. Jaden Mingus provided a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Veal and advance Soper to third. Then, Joey Rico sent a sacrifice fly to right to score Soper.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Westmont benefited from a Royals' mistake. After Andrew Guidara drew a walk to start off the inning, Yzermans reached on an error that ultimately allowed Guidara to reach third and Yzermans to take second. Patterson then grounded out to short, allowing Guidara to score.
 
Westmont's fifth run came in the bottom of the seventh inning. Patterson led off with a double over the center fielder's head, then reached third when Veal flew out to deep right field. A single by Soper drove in Patterson, making it a 5-3 game.
 
The final Westmont score was a lead-off home run by Rico over the fence in right center. It was the first of the freshman's collegiate career.
 
Westmont has just four games left in the season. The Warriors will travel down to Irvine for a four-game series with the Golden Eagles of Concordia on Friday and Saturday.
 
Currently tied with Point Loma Nazarene for first place in the PacWest standings, the 2024 baseball squad will be looking to win the first PacWest Regular Season Championship for Westmont. Point Loma will be playing a four-game series with Biola – the first two in San Diego and the last two in La Mirada.