By Ron Smith
February 8, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (5-2) captured both ends of a doubleheader today at Russ Carr Field, resulting in a four-game sweep of the Gators of San Francisco State (1-4). The Warriors, ranked 25th in NCAA DII, won Saturday's first game by a score of 9-6, then claimed the second 5-4 in extra innings.
 
Joey Rico took the mound for the Warriors to start the first game and picked up the win. He allowed two runs on three hits and struck out five batters.
 
"Joey did a nice job," said Westmont's head coach Paul Svagdis. "He walked a couple of guys early, and gave up a couple of runs, but settled down and got us five innings. That was certainly needed."
 
Josh Hickey pitched the remaining four innings and earned the save. He allowed four runs on six hits, striking out one and issuing just one walk.
 
"Hickey came in and did exactly what he was supposed to do," offered Svagdis. "He threw strikes and made them earn it. We were able to extend the lead a little bit at the plate. The hitters were doing a good job of swinging aggressively. I thought Hicks did an awesome job. When you are throwing strikes and making guys earn it, you have a shot."
 
The Gators got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the top of the second, the result of a lead-off double by Daniel Santos, a single by Kyle Olimpia and three walks.
 
Westmont responded in the bottom of the third with four runs to take the lead for good. Shane Hofstadler started the inning off with a double to right field. The Warriors' catcher scored when Colin Callahan singled into left, allowing Hofstadler to score from second.
 
Two outs later with the bases empty, Soper doubled down the right field line. After Bryce McFeely walked, Trey Dunn pounded out his third home run of the year - a three-run blast to right field. That gave the Warriors a 4-2 lead.
 
In the fourth inning, Hofstadler deposited a solo home run over the left field fence, extending Westmont's advantage to three runs. Then in the bottom of the fifth, Soper hit his second home run in as many days to make it a 6-2 game.
 
Westmont pushed across three more runs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 9-2 game. After Daniel Patterson singled to lead off the inning, Soper was walked. McFeely then hit a single down the right field line that plated Patterson and moved Soper to second. One out later, Bollengier walked, loading the bases with one away.
 
Grant Yzerman was called upon to take over as the designated hitter and picked up an RBI when he drew a bases loaded walk. Then, McFeely scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Gators would post four runs in the final two innings, but it would be too little, too late.
 
Westmont continued its hitting in the first inning of the second game, resulting in a 3-0 lead. Patterson hit a lead-off single to left. One out later, McFeely singled to left, advancing Patterson to third. Dunn picked up the first RBI of the inning with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Patterson. Then freshman Jesse Di Maggio directed a ball down the left-field line that cleared the fence inside the foul pole for a two-RBI home run.
 
San Francisco made it a 3-2 game in the top of the third when Justin Johnson hit a two-RBI double to center field that drove in Derek LaFerriere and Michael Cunningham.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Westmont added another run to make the score 4-2. With two away, Yzermans tripled down the right-field line. That brought up Callahan who singled into left field to bring Yzermans home.
 
The Gators were running out of time in the game that was scheduled for seven innings. However in the top of the sixth, San Francisco tied the score with two runs. The first run scored on a Warrior error. With Sugden at third, Cook at first, and two away, Cook took off for second. Westmont's attempt to throw out the would-be base steeler went awry when the ball went into center field. Cook would reach third on the play and Sugden would score. A single by Camden Andrews to right-center brought in Cook, knotting the score at four runs apiece.
 
Westmont had a chance to retake the lead in the bottom half of the sixth when they had men on second and third with one away. However, a strikeout and a pop up ended the Warriors' threat.
 
A scoreless seventh sent the game into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, the Gators had a man on third with one away. With Olimpia at the plate and Colby Rafail at third, San Francisco attempted a suicide squeeze. The pitch bounced in the dirt and was blocked by Hofstadler. With the ball in front of the plate and Hofstadler on his feet, Rafail tried to retreat back to third. However, Hofstadler ran him down, then tossed the ball to Patterson who applied the tag for the second out. Then, Olimpia flied out to center field to end the inning.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Di Maggio led off and reached on a walk. Isaac Veal, who already has three home runs on the young season, was asked to bunt. He did so, pushing the ball in between the pitcher and third baseman for a bunt single.
 
"Veal is fast, so being able to put a bunt down, beat it out and put pressure on teams could be a good part of his game in addition to hitting it over the other side of the fence," noted Svagid. "We had to play some small ball today. I wouldn't say that is who we are, but I was proud of the players being willing to move a guy over. They all did a really nice job."
 
That brought up Yzermans who was also asked to bunt. Yzermans bunted the ball down the third baseline, executing a successful sacrifice bunt that advanced Di Maggio to third and Veal to second.
 
San Francisco elected to issue an intentional walk to Callahan, loading the bases with Warriors and bringing Hofstadler to the plate. The senior catcher took two balls, then watched a strike go by. He then took ball three and finally, earned a walk-off walk when the fifth pitch of the at bat missed the strike zone. Di Maggio was forced home on the RBI-base on balls.
 
Kade Fujioka was awarded the win after taking the mound in the top of the seventh and pitching two scoreless innings.
 
"Fujioka, as a freshman, had his second time touching the mound and he got the win," noted Svagdis. "Congrats to him. I gave him a game ball. I thought he did a good job competing and pitching out of some situations with some double-play balls."
 
Ryan Humphreys started the game and gave the Warriors five solid innings. He allowed two runs on three hits while striking out eight.
 
"Ryan did a terrific job," assessed Svagdis. "He is a captain, a leader, and a super competitor. He pitched out of a jam and kept us in that game. It was fun for me to watch him do well. I know he is a great pitcher and that helps me as the season continues – whether it is adding advice or knowing when he's looking good versus not looking good. Every day is a new learning opportunity as a new coach."
 
After just two weekends, the Warriors are done with non-conference games. The PacWest regular season starts next weekend with Westmont hosting the Sharks of Hawai'i Pacific in a doubleheader on Saturday. February 15. On the following Monday, the same two teams will play another doubleheader at Russ Carr Field.
 
The weekend marks the start of Westmont's quest to earn a spot in the four-team PacWest Championship next May.