By Ron Smith
February 22, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Hosting a doubleheader on NCAA Division II Day – February 22 each year – #16 Westmont claimed a pair of wins over the Silverswords of Chaminade to complete the four-game sweep and extend the Warriors winning streak to an even dozen.
 
The Warriors claimed the first game 7-2, then won the second game 7-6 on a play at the plate.
 
In the first game, Westmont's Joey Rico took the mound and gave the Warriors five strong innings of play. He allowed two runs on four hits, struck out four and did not give up a walk.
 
Josh Hickey pitched the next three innings without allowing a run. He gave up three hits, struck out three and walked one. Caden Beloain pitched the scoreless ninth, the first time this season he pitched on back-to-back days.
 
Chaminade got on the board first with a solo home run to center by Jackson Dorn that ricocheted off of a batter's eye support pole.
 
Westmont tied the game up in the bottom half of the second. With one away, Jesse Di Maggio received a four-pitch walk. One out later, Di Maggio advanced to second on a wild pitch. That brought up Jack Bollengier who sent 335-foot double high off the batting cage fencing in right field, driving in Di Maggio.
 
In the bottom of the third, Westmont took a 2-1 lead on back-to-back doubles by Daniel Patterson and Michael Soper. Patterson's shot went down the left-field line before Soper went deep to right center.
 
In the top of the fifth, the Silverswords tied the game on a sacrifice fly to left by Caden Fujii that drove in Dorn from third.
 
The bottom of the seventh proved to be the pivotal moment of the game. Daniel Patterson walked on a full count, then Soper walked on four pitches. Bryce McFeely produced a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners one base. Then Trey Dunn walked to load the bases with Warriors. A wild pitch allowed Patterson to score and Dunn and Soper to relocate to second and third respectively.
 
That brought up Di Maggio whose high chopper back to the mound was mishandled by the pitcher. However, Fujii, Chaminade's shortstop, was there to pick up the ball and retire Di Maggio at first. Soper scored on the play and Dunn advanced to third.
 
A single to right by Grant Yzermans drove in Dunn. Then, Yzermans stole second base. Bollengier hit a chopper into the hole between short and third for an infield single that allowed Yzermans to take third. Then Hofstadler walked to load the bases. That brought up Colin Callahan whose single up the middle scored both Yzermans and Bollengier and made it a 7-2 game.
 
Callahan went three of four in the game.
 
The second game had some bizarre moments.
 
Hunter Hammond had a shaky start for the Warriors, walking the first three batters he faced, then giving up a grand slam to Safea Villaruz-Mauai. Hammond responded by striking out the next three batters he faced and appeared to have found his footing
 
In the bottom of the second, Westmont scored five runs on just one hit, all with two outs. Bollengier and Tanner Beltowski received back-to-back walks before each advanced a base on a wild pitch. Another wild pitch allowed Bollinger to score and Beltowski to take third.
 
After Tyler McEvoy walked on four pitches, Callahan sent a 374-foot home run over the left field fence to tie the game at four. Patterson then walked before stealing second. After Soper walked, McFeely did as well. Patterson then scored on a wild pitch.
 
In the bottom of the second, Westmont scored five runs on one hit (Callahan's three-run home run), seven walks, a stolen base and three wild pitches.
 
In the top of the third, Casey Kudell was walked. That brought up Villaruz-Mauai who sent a 111 mph bullet back to the mound. The ball struck Hammond and rebounded into the Warrior dugout. Villaruz-Mauai was awarded second base and Kudell advanced to third.
 
After several minutes of delay, Hammond was unable to continue. His roommate, Kade Fujioka came in to pitch to Alex Greb who grounded out to third, but drove in Kudell to tie the score at five runs apiece. The run was charged to Hammond.
 
Fujioka, who would be credited with the win, continued on the mound through the sixth inning. He pitched four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit.
 
In the bottom of the third, Westmont added two more runs, this time without any hits. Bollengier led off and reached first when he was hit by a pitch. Later in the inning, with Bollengier at second and one out, Tyler McEvoy reached on an error by the centerfielder that scored Bollengier. McEvoy would later score on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch taken by Bryce McFeely.
 
With the score still 7-5 headed into the top of the seventh, Westmont's head coach Paul Svagdis brought ine Zach Yates to close the game. Along with Yates came a change at catcher.
 
"When Zach comes in, I also like to bring in whoever it is that warms him up in the bullpen," explained Svagdis.
 
That meant Shane Hofstadler was called on to serve as the backstop in the final frame.
 
Yates gave up a single to pinch hitter Trysten Mooney to start off the top of the seventh. He then convinced Ayden Lobetos to ground out to second. The play developed too slowly for the Warriors to turn a double player, so Mooney advanced to second.
 
Pinch hitter Andrew Karns then produced an infield single, giving the Silverswords runners on the corner with one away. Cudell grounded out to second base with Karns reaching second and Mooney scoring to make the score 7-6.
 
With a man on second and two away, Villaruz-Mauai stepped up to bat. He sent the first pitch he saw past a diving Patterson and into left field. Cudell rounded third and headed for home, trying to tie the game at seven.
 
However, Dunn, the Westmont left fielder, retrieved the ball and fired to home on one hop. Hofstadler took one step to his right to catch the ball, then dove to his left on an intercept course with Cudell. Hofstadler tagged Cudell out before his outstretched hand could touch home plate.
 
"We practice those plays every Thursday," said Svagdis. "It was great to see Dunn make that throw."
 
The Warriors rushed the field in celebration.
 
After sweeping a 12-game homestand, the Warriors hit the road for a four-game series at Fresno Pacific (9-6, 3-4) next weekend (February 28 and March 1). Then on Friday and Saturday, March 7 and 8, the Warriors will be back in action at Russ Carr Field, taking on the #7 Sea Lions of Point Loma (10-4, 6-2).