By Ron Smith
April 5, 2025
 
(LA MIRADA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (28-9, 23-7 PacWest) extended its lead in the PacWest standings with a doubleheader sweep at Biola (13-15, 16-19) on Saturday. Shane Hofstadler and Bryce McFeely each delivered two home runs and Zach Yates extended his recently minted career saves record by collecting a save in each game.
 
The Warriors now hold a three-game lead in the standings over #13 Point Loma Nazarene (22-10, 18-8) and over Jessup (21-11, 24-13).
 
Biola opened the scoring in the first inning of the early game with a pair of solo home runs by Noah Ruiz and James Whitman that gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
 
In the top of the second, Westmont pulled within one (2-1) with some two-out magic, Jack Bollengier singled to left-center field, then reached third when Jesse Di Maggio doubled to left field on a 1-1 pitch. A wild pitch allowed Bollengier to score from third.
 
More two-out scoring helped the Warriors take the lead (3-2) in the top of the third. A two-run blast by Daniel Patterson to center field plated Grant Yzermans who had reached on a fielder's choice.
 
In the top bottom of the third, Biola evened the score at three runs apiece on an RBI single by Adiel Torres that drove in Nick Madole.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Warriors took advantage of a couple of Eagle errors. With one away, Bollengier reached on an error. Then Di Maggio did the same with Bollengier taking second. That brought up Hofstadler who belted the second pitch he saw over the left field fence for a three-run home run and a 6-3 Westmont lead.
 
Trey Dunn extended the Warrior lead to 7-3 when he hit a sacrifice fly to deep center field to drive in Patterson. The Warriors' third baseman had reached on a walk, then advanced to second and then to third on two wild pitches.
 
In the bottom half of the fifth, the Eagles narrowed the margin to just one run (7-6) by scoring three times. A bases-loaded wild pitch scored Ruiz for the first run of the inning before Whitman singled through the left side to score Isaiah Leon. The third run scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Tommy Kendlinger that drove in Torres.
 
The Warriors' 7-6 advantage stood until the top of the eighth when Westmont pushed across four runs. The first came on Hofstadler's second three-run home run of the game that brought home Isaac Veal and Di Maggio. Zach Mora scored the fourth run of the inning when Michael Soper reached on an error. That gave the Warriors an 11-6 lead. It would not last long.
 
Biola responded with a five-run bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game. A single by Leon drove in Cowley for the first run. After Torres was hit by a pitch, Whitman came up to bat with the bases loaded and delivered a grand slam to left. That tied the game at 11-all.
 
In the top of the ninth, Veal led off with a single to right center. One out later, Di Maggio singled to right, advancing Veal to second. Hofstadler was walked to load the bases. Then with two away, Yzermans doubled to right center, driving in Veal and Di Maggio to put the Warriors up 13-11.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, closer Zach Yates was called on to sew up the game for the Warriors. Yates retired the first two batters on a ground out and a strikeout before giving up a single and a walk. With the Warriors up by two, two on and two out, Ruiz lined out to Patterson at third to end the game.
 
With his eighth save of the season, Yates became the first Warrior in program history to record 20 career saves.
 
Joey Rico started the game for the Warriors but did not figure in the decision. He pitched four and one-third innings, allowing six runs on eight hits. Rico struck out five and walked one. Josh Hickey was awarded the win. He pitched three and two-third innings, allowing five runs on six hits while striking out two and walking one.
 
In the second game, it was the Warriors who scored twice in the first inning. With one away, Soper singled up the middle then advanced to second when Patterson was hit by a pitch. A double steal advanced both runners before McFeely was walked to load the bases. Soper scored on a wild pitch as the other runners moved up a base. Then, Di Maggio drove in Patterson with a single to center.
 
McFeely made it a 4-0 game in the top of the fourth when he sent the ball over the right-center field fence for a two run home run. Patterson, who scored on McFeely's blast, had led off the inning with a walk.
 
Biola evened the game at four in the bottom of the fourth. Back-to-back-to-back doubles by Torres, Whitman and Cowley were followed by a two-run home run by Nicholas Whippo.
 
In the top of the fifth, McFeely hit his second home run of the game, this one a towering solo shot over the left field fence. That restored the lead to Westmont with a score of 5-4.
 
Leon, Biola's lead-off batter in the bottom of the fifth, responded immediately with a home run to left field, tying the game at five.
 
In the top of the sixth, Westmont ground out what would prove to be the winning run. Hofstadler was walked to lead off the inning and was replaced with Veal at first. Bollengier successfully sacrificed Veal over to second. Colin Callahan pinch hit, and was hit by a pitch. One out later Veal and Callahan advanced a station on a wild pitch. Then with Soper at bat, a passed ball allowed Veal to score.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Westmont's head coach, Paul Svagdis, called on Yates to return to the mound for a six-out save. Patterson retired the first batter on a ground out to second, struck out the second batter, then got the third to fly out to right – all on 10 pitches.
 
After a scoreless top of the seventh, Yates returned to the mound and promptly struck out the side on 11 pitches, securing the win. That increased his career total to 21 and gave him nine saves on the year.
 
In the second game, Hunter Hammond made his first start for the Warriors since suffering an injury in a game against Chaminade on February 22. He pitched three innings, retiring the first six batters he faced and allowing two runs on three hits. He struck out three and walked two.
 
Willis Lacy was credited with the win. He pitched the fifth inning, which was scoreless, giving up one hit and striking out four.
 
Next on Westmont's schedule is a trip to Hawai'i where the Warriors will take on the Vulcans of Hawai'i Hilo in a four game series beginning on Friday, April 11.