Westmont baseball dropped both games to the Lancers of California Baptist (21-14, 12-12 GSAC) on Saturday at Russ Carr Field in a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader. The Lancers claimed the first game by a score of 10-5 before shutting out the Warriors in the second, 4-0.
Six runs in the third inning gave the Lancer’s an 8-1 lead and more runs that they would need in the opening game. The Warriors (9-25, 6-18 GSAC) scored one in the second off a lead-off home run by second baseman Mark Boujikian that cleared the “Screen Monster” in left field.
Westmont had men on first and second in the fifth inning with no outs after first baseman Mark Magdaleno and shortstop Zach Torres recorded back-to-back singles. But the Warriors’ threat ended when a Warrior hit-and-run turned into a triple play for the Lancers. Terrell Wong hit the ball sharply, but right at California Baptist second baseman Cole Bullard who was playing near the bag. Bullard snagged the line drive for the first out, stepped on second base for the second out and threw to first base for the third out.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Warriors added a run after third baseman Jordan Bottenfield was walked to lead off the inning. Bottenfield reached second on a wild pitch and third on a pass ball. Designated hitter Mike Zettl drove Bottenfield home on a ground ball to the shortstop.
The Warriors had men on first and second with no outs again in the bottom of the seventh. This time, Magdaleno doubled to right field to drive in Taylor Grace and Taylor Maddox, giving the Warriors two more runs.
Westmont’s final run came in the bottom of the eight as the result of a solo home run to right-center by catcher Sam Wiley.
Drew Dowl took the loss for the Warriors after giving up eight runs on six hits in two and one-third innings of work. Dowl walked two and struck out one. Kyle Noe pitched the remaining six and two-third innings, giving up two runs on five hits. Noe struck out five and walked two.
The win was awarded to Lancer starter Taylor Siemens who allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits. Siemens struck out seven and walked three in six and two-thirds innings.
In the second game, California Baptist recorded three runs in the third and one in the sixth as Cory Kiefer pitched a complete, 7-inninng shutout while limiting the Warriors to just three hits. Kiefer struck out six and walked two.
Kellen Skersies was assigned the loss after giving up four runs on ten hits in five and two-thirds innings. Skersies, who struck out two and walked one, was relieved by Dan Price with one away in the sixth inning. Price faced four batters, retiring them all and striking out two.
The Warriors will take on The Master’s on Wednesday and Thursday of next week, traveling to Santa Clarita for the first game and hosting the Mustangs in the second. Both games are scheduled to begin at three o’clock.
