By Ron Smith
April 25, 2025
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In the final regular season home game of the year, #4 Westmont Baseball (36-10, 31-8 PacWest) claimed both ends of a conference doubleheader against Vanguard (23-19, 27-21) on Friday at Russ Carr Field. The Warriors won the first game 10-4 and the second by a score of 9-3.
 
Ryan Humphreys, the reigning NCBWA Division II Pitcher of the Week, improved his record to 9-1 in the victory, Humphreys pitched the first six innings, allowing just one run on two hits. He struck out nine and walked two.
 
Humphreys gave up a single to lead-off hitter Jaxso Davis to start the game, but did not allow another hit until Josh Schleichardt hit a solo home run in the sixth. By starting his outing with five scoreless innings, Humphreys extended his scoreless inning streak to 18 before Schleichardt's home run brought it to an end.
 
Zach Yates pitched the last inning and one-third. He allowed one hit but no runs.
 
The Warriors' first run came in the bottom of the second inning, courtesy of an opposite field, solo home run by Trey Dunn. The left fielder powered his team-leading 12th home run 334 feet over the right field fence.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Westmont added three more runs to take a 4-0 lead. With one away, Jesse Di Maggio singled through the right side, then advanced to second when Shane Hofstadler was hit by a pitch. One out later, sophomore Zach Mora sent the ball 338 feet for a home run to left for his first collegiate home run.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Westmont extended its advantage to six when DiMaggio delivered a two-RBI double to left that drove in Dunn and Bryce McFeely.
 
After Schleichardt's home run in the top of the sixth made the score 6-1, Westmont added two more in the bottom half of the inning. Daniel Patterson recorded a ground-rule double that hopped the fence in left-center field, driving in Mora and advancing Soper to third. Both Mora and Soper had previously reached on singles. Then Soper scored on a wild pitch, making it an 8-1 game.
 
The Lions narrowed the Warrior lead to four with three runs in the top of the eighth, but Westmont had the last word, scoring twice more in their final at bat. With the bases loaded and one out, Di Maggio drove a single through the left side to bring home both Patterson and McFeely.
 
Yates brought the game to a close by retiring the side in order in the top of the ninth.
 
In the nightcap, Vanguard took an early 2-0 lead on an RBI-single by Schleichardt and a sacrifice fly by Angel Perez. However, Westmont wasted no time responding, scoring twice on solo home runs in the bottom of the first.
 
Grant Yzermans hit the first pitch thrown by Lion pitchers 357 feet over the left field fence to tally his fifth home run of the year. Then with two away, McFeely pounded the ball to left. After the ball left the bat at 108 mph, McFeely's 11th home run of the year traveled 416 feet.
 
The score remained tied at two runs apiece until the bottom of the third. That's when Patterson came up with one out and men on first and second. Patterson singled through the right side, driving in Yzermans and moving Soper to second. After a single by McFeely loaded the bases, Dunn singled through the left side, scoring Patterson.
 
The Lions cut Westmont's lead to one (4-3) in the top of the fourth, but Westmont responded again. This time it was Soper's bat that provided the power, sending a line drive to right that traveled 369 feet. The home run, Soper's sixth of the year, drove in Yzermans from first.
 
The Warriors recorded the final three runs in the bottom of the fifth. With McFeely at third, Di Maggio singled through the right side to make the score 7-3. Then, with two away and Di Maggio at second, Hofstadler tripled off the wall in left center field to plate Di Maggio. The Warriors' catcher, then, scored on a wild pitch, making it a 9-3 game.
 
Bryan Peck was awarded the win after pitching the opening four innings. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out three.
 
Perhaps the most impressive part of Peck's performance came in the bottom of the second. With one out and the bases loaded, Noah Madole swung on a 2-2 pitch. The ball sawed Madole's composite bat in two pieces with the barrel landing on the pitcher's mound while the ball followed the bat.
 
Despite the incoming missile, Peck had the presence of mind to field the ball and throw it to Hofstadler at home for the force out. Hofstadler then fired to first, completing the double play and ending the Lions' threat.
 
Caden Beloain pitched the final four innings for the Warriors to earn his fourth save of the year. Beloain did not allow a run or a hit. He struck out four and walked two.
 
With the win, Westmont maintained its two and one-half game lead over Point Loma (32-12, 28-10) who swept Azusa Pacific today. The Warriors, who have already clinched a berth in the PacWest tournament, now have a magic number of three (any combination of Westmont wins and Point Loma losses) to clinch the PacWest Regular Season Championship. Westmont has four games remaining while Point Loma has six.
 
On Saturday, the Warriors and Lions will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader in Costa Mesa. First pitch is scheduled for noon.