Westmont baseball split a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader with the Lions of Vanguard at Russ Carr Field on Saturday. The Warriors won the first game 4-3 and the Lions took the second by the same score.
In the early game, Vanguard (7-12, 3-9 GSAC) started things off with a single run in the second inning. It could have been much worse for the Warriors (5-21, 3-14 GSAC). With the bases loaded and one away, Vanguard right fielder Derek Craddock lined a base hit to first scoring the runner on third. Brett Siegmund, the runner on second, advanced to third but was held because of quick action by Warrior right fielder Brent Meschuk to get the ball back to first baseman Mark Magdaleno.
The problem for the Lions was that Nicholas Akins, who started the play at first base, didn’t notice that Siegmund had stayed at third until he was nearly at third himself. Magdaleno crossed the field, tagging Akins out midway between second and third. Meanwhile, Craddock tried to make it to second base but was thrown out by Magdaleno, bringing an end to the inning.
Vanguard picked up a second run in the top of the third when Jason Schaniel drove an RBI-single down the left field line to score Zachary Falk.
Westmont’s first run came in the bottom of the third inning when third baseman Jordan Bottenfield hit a two-out solo homerun to left field.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Westmont evened the score at two runs apiece when shortstop Zeke Torres received a bases-loaded two-out walk. Then in the bottom of the seventh, Westmont took its first lead of the game after center fielder Taylor Maddox doubled down the left field line to lead off the inning. One out later, left fielder David Stout drove Maddox in with a single to center field.
In the eighth inning, Vanguard tied the game at three all. Schaniel singled up the middle with one away but was thrown out on the next play on a fielder’s choice which left Eric Krzysiak at first with two outs. Michael Anderson then smashed a line drive of Westmont pitcher Drew Dowl’s foot which careened into right field allowing Daniel Black, who was pinch running for Krzysiak, to reach third base.
Anderson then attempted to steal second base. Torres, cut off the throw to second by Westmont catcher Sam Wiley and tried to throw out Black who was now breaking for home. But Torres throw was in the dirt and got away from Wiley as Black scored. When Wiley chased after the ball, Anderson tried to take third. But Wiley threw him out to end the inning.
The winning run came in the bottom half of the eighth inning. Magdaleno lead off the inning with a walk and was replaced on the base pads by Charles Whitman. Mark Boujikian laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Whitman over to second. Relief pitcher Christopher Carls attempted to pick Whitman off at second, but the ball bounced off of the shortstops’ glove allowing Whitman to advance to third. Whitman then scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Meschuk.
Dowl, who pitched the first eight innings for the Warriors, was awarded the win. He allowed three runs, one earned, on eight hits. Dowl struck out five and walked one. Dan Price closed out the game in the ninth inning to pick up the save. Relief pitcher Brain Lewis was charged with the loss for the Lions.
In the second game, Magdaleno, now playing at first base, started the Warriors off in the first inning with a towering three-run home run to left field. But the Warriors, who gave up two runs in the fifth and two in the sixth, could not generate any more offense.
Anderson pitched six innings of the seven inning game for the Lions and earned the win. He allowed three runs on four hits, struck out four and walked two. Westmont’s Kellen Skersies was charged with the loss after giving up four runs on eight hits. He struck out two and walked one.
Westmont will return to action on Thursday, March 19 when they travel to La Mirada for a rematch with the Eagles of Biola. First pitch is at three o’clock.
