After falling victim to an outstanding pitching performance by Fresno Pacific’s Kelyn Scellenberg in today’s doubleheader, the Warriors bounced back with an 8-7 win in the second game. The games, which were played at FPU field, were conference openers for both teams. Ninth-ranked and previously unbeaten Fresno Pacific (9-1, 1-1 GSAC) won the first game 9-0.
“Schellenberg did a great job,” acknowledged Westmont Head Coach Robert Ruiz. “He stayed down in the strike zone all day. We just didn’t make the adjustments we needed to make. He wasn’t striking us out but we continued to hit balls into the ground. We started to make the adjustment, but we made it too late. Hats off to him, he did a great job.”
The Warriors were held hitless until Terrell (TK) Wong opened the top of the ninth with a single up the middle. The Warriors only other hit was produced later in the inning by designated hitter Tim Leary who singled down the left field line.
“Terrell did a great job of trying to get the team going offensively,” said Ruiz. “He had two walks and broke up the no-hitter in the ninth. He was putting the team on his shoulders offensively, but we just couldn’t make the adjustments behind him.”
Jacob Regalado started for the Warriors and pitched five and one-third inning. He gave up nine runs, six of which were earned, on 11 hits.
The Warriors gave up six runs in the bottom of the third, four of which came on a two-run double by Dwight Nixon and a homerun by Case Rigby. The Warriors committed four errors in the game, three in the third inning.
Regalado was relieved on the mound by David Stott who closed out the final two and two-third innings. He allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out one.
“Stott came in out of the pen after we had a defensive meltdown (in the sixth inning),” said Ruiz. “He didn’t give up any runs, he threw strikes and he did a good job.”
The Warriors wasted no time in righting the ship for the second game.
“Our entire team did a great job of responding after getting shut down in the first game,” said Ruiz. “Coby (Cress) comes up to bat, stays aggressive and gets a base hit for us. Bottenfield hit his two-run homerun with two strikes. He did a great job staying in the count and staying focused.”
With a 2-0 lead in his pocket, freshman pitcher Geoff Rocha took the mound and allowed just one hit over the first four innings. Fresno Pacific scored a single run in the bottom of the fifth, but Westmont tacked on two in the top of the sixth on a two-run homerun by designated hitter Tim Leary. Wong scored from third on Leary’s left-center blast after reaching on an infield single to lead off the inning.
“Tim stepped up big and came through for us,” said Ruiz. “He’s in the four hole because we are looking to him in those big situation. He had aggressive at bats all day long.”
In the bottom of the seventh, however, thing began to unravel for the Warriors. Rocha hit the first batter and then surrendered a homerun to left center to Alec Merhten. Travis Morgan then reached on an infield single and Rocha was replaced on the bump by Kyle Noe.
The first four batters Noe faced all reached base as the Sunbird pushed across six runs in the inning.
“Chris Plance came in after we fell behind,” said Ruiz. “We brought him in with bases loaded and two outs. One pitch got us out of the inning. Phil Pricket made a great diving play in left field to keep us close.”
Down 7-4, the Warriors picked up one run in the top of the seventh. Wong hit a one-out double down the right field line and then advanced to third on a fly to right by Cress. Bottenfield then drove Wong in with his third hit of the game, a single to right center.
“Bottenfield was three for four with 3 RBIs,” reported Ruiz. “He really stepped up and carried the team offensively. TK did the same thing with two hits and the game winning RBI.”
The top of the ninth found the Warriors behind 7-5. But Colten Christianson stepped to the plate and singled up the middle to get things started for the Warriors. Catcher Mark Magdaleno was then hit by a pitch, moving Christianson to second. Ruiz sent in courtesy runner Zeke Torres to replace Magdaleno and called upon Charles Whitman to pinch hit.
“Whitman was attempting to sacrifice those two runners over, but he was selective and drew a walk to load the bases,” said Ruiz.
One out later, Ruiz brought in Evan Soliman to pinch hit.
“Soliman got a two-strike, two-RBI single up the middle,” said Ruiz. “It was a huge at bat for a freshman coming in cold off the bench in the 18th inning of play today. He stayed focused and picked up those two runs for us.”
That brought up Wong at the top of the order with Soliman at first and Whitman on third representing the go-ahead run.
“TK came up and had two strikes and then got the sacrifice fly for the winning run,” said Ruiz.
With the Warriors up 8-7, Pete McCarthy took the mound and retired three in a row on infield ground balls to earn his second save of the year. Plance, who gave up just one hit in one and one-third innings, was awarded the win to improve his record to 1-0. Rocha received a no-decision despite a solid performance.
“This was Jeff’s second start as a freshman,” said Ruiz. “I am real happy with the level of competitiveness that he brought to the table. He went after a great team and a great offense. He pitched well throughout and gave us a shot. We’re real proud of his mound presence and the way he carried himself on the field today.
“Fresno is a great team and I was proud of the way our guys continued to fight back in that second game, especially after the first one,” continued Ruiz. “Everyone was pushing for each other and I thought it was a great team victory in the second game.”
The two squads are scheduled to face each other again on Saturday in a doubleheader at Russ Carr Field. However, the weather forecast calls for heavy rain both Friday and Saturday. While the schedule remains the same, fans are advised to check the Warrior Web Site (www.westmont.edu/athletics) for updates before traveling to the game.
