Westmont College Athletics

By Ron Smith
April 10, 2026
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Westmont Baseball (21-11, 18-12 PacWest) lost both games of today's doubleheader, the start of a four-game series with Jessup (22-16, 18-14). Westmont lost the first game by a score of 8-7, then fell 6-3 in the nightcap.
 
"We didn't play well today," acknowledged Westmont's head coach Paul Svagdis. "The players fought back in the first game and gave us a chance to win. We need to continue to improve on the little things and get back to it tomorrow."
 
By design, Westmont used nine different pitchers in the first game, with none going more than an inning and two-thirds. Including today, the Warriors have 11 games to play over the next 11 days – the result of rescheduled games with Hawai'i Pacific because of the rain outs in Honolulu. Svagdis was looking for a way to minimize the strain on his pitching staff. As it turned out, however, the Warriors were unable to get the outs they needed to make the plan work.
 
The Warriors of Jessup tallied three runs in the first and two more in the second to take an early 5-0 lead. Westmont got back in the game in the bottom of the second by scoring three runs. Noah Williams reached on a throwing error to start the inning, then took second when Isaac Veal produced an infield hit.
 
A double-steal attempt was not only successful, but also allowed Williams to score and Veal to take third when the catcher's throw to second bounded into center field.
 
After Aaron Jacobsen walked on a full count, Colin Callahan laid down a sacrifice bunt that allowed Veal to score and Jacobsen to reach second. One out later, Aiden Voyles reached on a single to right field that plated Jacobsen. However, when Voyles tried to take second on the throw to the plate, he was thrown out to end the inning.
 
After two innings of play, Westmont found itself back in the game but trailing 5-3. That was before solo home runs by Jessup's Justin Tsukada in the third and Cody Antone in the fourth, gave the visitors a 7-3 advantage.
 
The score remained unchanged until the bottom half of the sixth. With two away, Williams singled through the left side. Veal stepped to the plate and powered a ball to center field that hit the batter's eye 12 feet above the fence. That made the score 7-5.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Voyles beat out an infield single with one away. Jack Zerkel replaced Voyles at first to give the Warriors some extra speed on the base pads.  As it turned out, speed was not needed. Zerkel trotted around the bases when Grant Yzermans' swing on a full-count pitch sent the ball over the right-field fence for a two-run home run. That tied the game at seven runs apiece.
 
It did not take long for Jessup to respond. With two out in the top of the eighth and no one aboard, Landyn Plaut homered to right center, producing what would prove to be the final run of the game.
 
The second game started much better for the Warriors with Yzermans hitting his second knock of the day – this time a lead-off home run down the left field line in the bottom of the first.
 
However, Plaut led off the second inning and homered again for his second home run in as many at bats. That made the score 1-1.
 
In the top of the third, Jessup took a 2-1 lead when, with men and first and second, Tony Otis reached on a throwing error that allowed Jayden Montero to round third and arrive safely at home.
 
With two outs in the bottom of the third, however, Westmont manufactured the tying run. After Williams singled to center field, Jessie Di Maggio singled through the right side, advancing Williams to second. Jacobsen then singled through the left side to drive in Williams and tie the game at two runs each.
 
In the top of the fourth, a pair of walks and a hit batsman lead to a bases loaded situation for Jessup with one away. Montero singled through the left side to pick up an RBI and leave the bases loaded. Then, Colby Pudge sent a sacrifice fly to right to score Adam Reyes. A single up the middle by Otis drove in the third run of the inning, making the score 5-2.
 
Jessup extended their lead by one run in the top of the sixth when Matt Gonsalvez singled to left, driving in Antone from second base.
 
Di Maggio led off the top of the sixth with a home run to left field, reducing the margin to 6-3, but that was the last hit of the game for Westmont.
 
Matt Vazquez took the loss for the Warriors, giving up four runs (three earned) on two hits in three and one-third innings of work. Manny Soto pitched the final three and two-third innings allowing two runs on seven hits.
 
Both teams return to Russ Carr Field on Saturday to conclude the series with another doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.