By Ron Smith
April 25, 2026
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) Taking on the Broncos of Cal Poly Pomona (27-18) in a non-conference doubleheader at Russ Carr Field, Westmont Baseball fell in the early game 5-1 before posting a 12-0 shutout win in the second.
 
"The team responded today in game two," said Westmont's head coach Paul Svagdis. "I thought we got great pitching all weekend, we just needed to knock guys in when they were in scoring position."
 
Matt Vazquez started the first game for the Warriors, pitching three scoreless innings. Vazquez allowed three hits, struck out one and did not issue a walk.
 
Nick Romero pitched the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, allowing two runs on six hits.
 
In the top of the fifth, Julian Angulo hit an RBI-double to right field, driving in Jack Sanders from second base. Later in the inning, Angelo scored on an RBI-single through the right side by Austin Duarte
 
Jesse Di Maggio led off the bottom of the fifth with a home run to left - his team leading 12th of the season –cutting the Warrior deficit to one. However, it was the only run the Warriors would score.
 
The Broncos added a run in the seventh and then two more in the eighth.
 
In the second game, Svagdis made some adjustments.
 
"We had six underclassmen start today's second game," said the coach. "Tony Lopez was one of them and he did a great job pitching out of trouble as our opener today."


Lopez retired the first Bronco batter on a fly out to right before giving up a single to Gage Gonzales. After a pop-up by Tyler Blade, Evan Nahra was hit by a pitch, giving Cal Poly Pomona runners on first and second with two away. After Dominic De Feo loaded the bases on a fielder's choice, Lopez induced the third out of the inning for the Warriors with a groundout to third.
 
In the top of the second, Caden Beloian took over duties on the mound. Over five scoreless innings of play, Beloian allowed just one hit, struck out seven and did not allow a walk.
 
"Beloian put the club on his back once again," said Svagdis. "He is a fierce competitor."
 
While Beloian was shutting down the Bronco's offense, Warriors bats came alive, starting in the bottom of the second with the first collegiate home run by freshman Braydon Griffin. His 364-foot shot to center field left his bat at 98 mph.
 
In the bottom of the third, freshman Booby Logue singled to left, driving in Isaac Veal from second. Veal had reached on a single to center, then took second when Di Maggio singled through the left side.
 
"I was really excited to see Bobby Logue step up," noted Svagdis. "He has been very coachable and has a terrific swing for a freshman."
 
Westmont added another run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI-single by Noah Williams. Previously, Zach Mora singled to left, then reached second on a sacrifice bunt by Grant Yzermans, putting himself in position for Williams at bat.
 
Then in the bottom of the fifth, Westmont doubled its run production to go up 6-0. Di Maggio led off with a full-count walk and took second when Colin Callahan was also walked on a 3-2 count. Jack Zerkel replaced Callahan at second before Logue came up to bat. Logue reached on an error with Zerkel taking third and Di Maggio scoring the first run of the inning.
 
A wild pitch allowed Zerkel to move to third and Di Maggio to take second before Griffin hit a sacrifice fly to center to plate Zerkel for the second run. Then, Griffin Brown singled up the middle, bringing home Logue.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Warriors doubled their score again, increasing their lead to 12-0. Beltowski started things off with a 362-foot solo home run to center. After an infield single by Veal, the Warriors' center fielder stole second. Then, Di Maggio drove in Veal with a single through the left side.
 
One out later, Logue reached on an infield single that moved Di Maggio to second. Then with two outs, Mora produced yet another infield single, scoring Di Maggio and advancing Logue to second. That brought up Griffin Brown whose towering shot to left cleared the fence just inside the foul pole for a three-run home run that made the score 12-0
 
Before the inning would end, Gary Scannavino entered the game as a pinch hitter and scalded a ball down the left field line, collecting his first collegiate hit.
 
Brandon Tatch was called upon to close out the game in the top of the seventh and final inning. He did so without allowing a hit. Beloian was awarded the win, improving his record to 3-2.
 
While the Warriors were engaged in a non-conference series, the rest of the PacWest was busy bringing the postseason picture into a little bit better focus. At season's end next Saturday, the four teams sitting at the top of the conference standings will earn a place in the PacWest Championship, which Westmont will host beginning on May 6.
 
Point Loma (38-9, 34-6 PacWest) and Concordia (29-23, 27-17), have already clinched their berths in the tournament. Hawai'i Pacific (25-19, 23-15) and Fresno Pacific (27-13, 22-16) are currently in third and fourth place respectively. Westmont (21-17) sits in fifth place, one game behind Fresno Pacific and two games behind Hawai'i Pacific. Jessup (27-21, 23-19) is in sixth place and Biola (21-19) is in seventh.
 
Next Friday and Saturday, Westmont will host Menlo (17-25, 15-24). Hawai'i Pacific will travel to Hawai'i Hilo (13-25, 12-22) and Fresno Pacific will host Vanguard (12-34, 9-31).
 
For the Warriors to get into the double-elimination championship tournament, they must win at least three games against Menlo to be ahead of Jessup and Biola. Additionally, Westmont must either win one more game against Menlo than Fresno Pacific does against Vanguard, or two more games than Hawai'i Pacific does against Hawai'i Hilo. Westmont holds the tiebreaker against both Hawai'i Pacific and Fresno Pacific.
 
Next weekend's four-game series at Russ Carr Field against Menlo will begin on Friday with a doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m.