Westmont second baseman Brandon Allen executed an unassisted triple play, and the Warriors went on to beat Azusa Pacific 5-4 in 13 innings on Wednesday at Russ Carr Field.
At the major league level, an unassisted triple play is more uncommon than a perfect game. Since 1901, 20 perfect games have been thrown while only 15 unassisted triple plays have been recorded.
“We were beside ourselves,” said Westmont coach Robert Ruiz of the triple play. “I have never experienced an unassisted triple play and I don’t think anyone in our dugout has. It shocked all of us, but it was exciting and was a big momentum turn. It fired up our dugout and gave us a lot of life.”
With men on first and second, the Azusa Pacific coaching staff called for a hit-and-run on the first pitch from Regalado to Sammy Soyring. Soyring lined the ball to Allen who glove it and tagged Anthony Rodriguez as he ran from first to second. Allen then dashed to, and stepped on, second base; retiring Alex Ring who taken off for third.
“When you see the opportunity to do something special, you have to take it,” said Allen. “I caught it and tagged the runner. Then I looked over and saw the runner was nearly standing on third base. So I just jogged over and touched the base.”
Pete McCarthy pitched two and one-third innings in relief to pick-up the win. McCarthy did not allow a run and gave up just two hits. Jacob Regalado, making his first start of the year, allowed three runs on seven hits in seven and one-third innings of work. He struck out five and walked three.
Mitch Crocker pitched three and one-third innings for the Warriors allowing one run on four hits. Crocker struck out four without allowing a walk.
With two outs in the top of the tenth, Brent Warren hit a solo home run to right field to give Azusa a 4-3 advantage. But the Warriors were not about to give up.
Phil Prickett reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the 10th and advanced to second on a balk. Two outs later, Prickett reached third on a wild pitch. Down in the count 1-2, J.J.Turbin doubled down the left- field line to tie the game up at four-all.
“I can’t say enough about J.J. staying in there and battling,” said Ruiz. “He was down to a strike against a good pitcher. As a left-handed batter against a pitch that was fairly well executed, he stayed in there and battled to get a line drive down the left-field line.”
“It has been a long year,” said Turbin, “but throughout the whole year we have never quit (even though) we’ve had some rough weeks. This is my first year here and I’ve never played on a team like this. Despite circumstances, we always find a way to come out and practice hard and play hard every day. It is such a great group of guys to be around.”
Turbin also kept the Warriors in the game in the top of the 13th inning with a spectacular defensive play. With a man at first and one out, Rodriguez drove a ball into right-center field. Turbin dove to his left and snagged the ball for the second out of the inning.
“I got a good jump on it,” said Turbin. “I thought I was going to drop it because my glove dropped down, but I ended up coming up with it.”
After the third out was recorded in the top of the inning, Turbin led off the bottom of the thirteenth and reached on an error by the shortstop. That brought up Coby Cress who smashed a walk-off triple over the centerfielder’s head.
