By Ron Smith
February 17, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) On a gorgeous day at Russ Carr Field, #21 Westmont Baseball (9-2, 4-0 PacWest) completed a four game sweep of Hawai'i Pacific (2-7, 0-4) with a pair of wins on Monday. The Warriors took the first game 11-2 before recording a 2-1 win in the nightcap.
 
Joey Rico started game one and pitched four innings. He allowed just one run on four hits. He struck out four and walked two. Josh Hickey pitched the next four innings, earning the win while allowing one run on five hits. Hickey struck out five and did not allow a walk.
 
Willis Lacy pitched the final scoreless inning without allowing a hit. He struck out one and walked one.
 
Hawai'i Pacific took an early lead when Skyler Agnew led off the second inning with a home run to right center. The lead did not last long. Tyler Dunn led off the bottom of the second inning with a home run to center field. One out later, Jack Bollengier followed suit with a home run to right.
 
Jesse Di Maggio singled to left, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With two away, Colin Callahan singled through the right side, driving in Di Maggio.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Warriors added three more runs to take a 6-1 lead. With one away, Di Maggio homered to right center. Then with two away, Callahan singled through the left side before advancing to second on a wild pitch.
 
Daniel Patterson and Michael Soper received back-to-back walks, loading the bases. That brought up Bryce McFeely who singled through the right side, driving in Callahan and Patterson.
 
Westmont added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on Di Maggio's second home run of the game. The two-run blast down the left field line drove in Bollengier who had reached on a single to lead off the inning.
 
After the Sharks scored a run in the top of the seventh to make the score 8-2, the Warriors added three more runs following the seventh inning stretch. Di Maggio singled to center field, then reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Shane Hofstadter. Callahan then delivered the Warriors' fifth home run of the game – a two run shot to left. With two away, Soper reached on a single to left, then stole second. McFeely then reached second on an error that also allowed Soper to score the final run of the game.
 
The second game was a lower-scoring affair. The Warriors' two runs came in the bottom of the fourth, which Dunn led off with a single to center field. When Bollengier reached on an error, Dunn advanced to third. That brought up Di Maggio who produced a two-RBI double to right field.
 
On the day, Di Maggio went six for eight with two home runs and a double, four runs scored and four RBIs.
 
Hunter Hammond took the win for the Warriors after starting and pitching five scoreless innings. Hammond allowed just one hit, struck out four and walked just one. Zach Yates picked up his first save of the year by pitching the final two innings. Yates allowed one run on three hits and struck out three without issuing a walk.
 
Next up for the Warriors is a four-game series with Chaminade (Hawaii) with doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday. First pitch is at 11:00 a.m. on both days.