A three-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as Westmont Baseball (19-21-1) lost a 4-2 Golden State Athletic Conference match-up with No. 5 Azusa Pacific (34-8, 21-3) on Thursday in Azusa.
Tim Leary (4-5) was charged with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits. Leary struck out four and walked four. Geoff Rocha pitched two scoreless innings in relief allowing just one hit. Rocha struck out five and did not allow a walk.
Westmont jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a two-out home run in the top of the fourth by Leary. However, the Cougars responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth. With one away, Johnathan Erb was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and then took third on a pass ball. After a walk to Matt Kimmel, J.C. Aguayo hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Erb.
After Kimmel reached second on a balk, Brendan Casey reached first and took second on an error that also allowed Kimmel to score. Casey advanced to third on a wild pitch before pated singled to right field to drive in Casey.
Westmont got one run back in the top of the fifth on a solo home run to left field by Will Barring. That was all the scoring the Warriors would generate. Azusa Pacific added another run in the bottom half of the fifth when Brent Warren’s RBI single drove in Sammy Soyring.
Westmont and Azusa will play game two of the four game series tomorrow evening in Azusa beginning at six. On Saturday, the two teams will meet up in Santa Barbara at Russ Carr Field for a doubleheader beginning at noon.
