After scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to take a 5-3 lead, the Warriors gave up three runs in the top of the eighth as Westmont fell to #18 The Master’s (25-12, 15-9 GSAC) by a score of 6-5 on Thursday afternoon at Russ Carr Field in a Golden State Athletic Conference baseball game.
Starting pitcher Keith Johnson gave up three runs on seven hits in six and two-third innings of work but did not figure in the decision. Johnson struck out six and walked five. The loss was charged to Kyle Noe who relieved Johnson in the seventh inning and helped the Warriors get out of a bases-loaded jam. But Noe gave up three runs in the eighth inning on one hit, a walk and a hit bats man.
Graham Miller was awarded the win for The Master’s after pitching seven innings and giving up five runs on six hits. Miller struck out seven and walked seven. David Goodenough lived up to his name and pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn a save.
Solo home runs by right fielder Eric Blackwell in the first inning and second baseman Joe Zeller in the third gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead.
The Warriors scored one run in the bottom of the third after third baseman Jordan Bottenfield reached on a walk to lead off the inning. Bottenfield advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by designated hitter Mike Zettl and then took third on a single through the right side by first baseman Sam Wiley. A ground ball to short by catcher Mark Magdaleno allowed Bottenfield to score.
Westmont (10-26, 7-19 GSAC) picked up another run in the bottom half of the sixth to tie the game at two. Second baseman Mark Boujikian singled through the left side but was thrown out at second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by right fielder Terrell Wong. Wong was moved over to second when shortstop Zeke Torres was walked, giving the Warriors men on first and second with one away. A single through the left side by centerfielder Taylor Maddox drove Wong home.
The Master’s scored a single run in the seventh inning when Johnson gave up a bases loaded walk with two outs. That’s when Noe took over on the mound and struck out designated hitter Tyler Diamond to retire the side.
Wiley led off the bottom of the seventh and was struck by the first pitch he saw. Ryan Haddock was called on to pinch hit and laid down a bunt. But Jackson Kwiatkowski, who was pinch running for Wiley at first, was thrown out at second base leaving Haddock at first. That brought up Boujikian who delivered a two run home run over the “Screen Monster” in left field to put the Warriors up 4-3.
However, the Warriors were not done with the bottom of the seventh just yet. With two outs, Torres received a walk. That gave Maddox an opportunity to extend the inning, which he did with a double down the left field line. Torres scored from first on the play to give the Warriors a 5-3 lead.
But the top of the eighth inning would prove to be the Warriors’ undoing. After retiring the first two batters, Noe gave up a single to pinch hitter Jared Otto and then walked left fielder Kirk Nungester. Pete Goeman was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Noe was replaced on the mound by Chris Place who gave up back-to-back singles, allowing three runs to score, before the final out of the inning could be recorded.
The Warriors had base runners in both the eighth and ninth innings, but could not score the tying run.
Westmont returns to Russ Carr Field on Saturday for a doubleheader against #4 Point Loma Nazarene. First pitch is scheduled for twelve o’clock.
