Westmont Baseball split to extra innings games with Vanguard (23-19, 13-16 GSAC) on Friday in Costa Mesa and as a result has an opportunity to play for a place in the postseason on the final day of the regular season on Saturday. The Warriors (20-24-1, 11-19 GSAC) lost the first game in 11 innings by a score of 3-2, the won the second in eight innings by a count of 6-3. The second game was scheduled for seven innings.
The Warriors scored first in the opening game, posting a 1-0 advantage in the fourth inning. Center fielder J.J. Turbin singled to center to start the inning and advanced to second when pitcher Tim Leary was hit by a pitch. Right fielder Coby Cress advanced both runners one base with a sacrifice bunt. Third baseman David Gabel’s sacrifice fly to center field allowed Turbin to score.
Westmont added another run in the top of the sixth inning in similar fashion. With one away, Turbin and Leary both reached base when hit by a pitch. Cress then walked to load the bases. Once again, Gabel produced a sacrifice fly to bring home Turbin and put the Warriors up 2-0.
Leary and the Warriors took a shutout into the ninth inning, but Vanguard’s Brandon Young led off with a double to right center, then scored on a single up the middle by Bryce Arroyo. Tim Leary was relieved on the mound at that point in favor of Taylor Martin.
Leary received a no decision after pitching eight plus innings. Leary gave up two runs on six hits, struck out five and walked two.
When play resumed, Arroyo reached second on a sacrifice bunt by J.T. Truhett and then took third on a throwing error that allowed Nikko Tountas to reach first. Ethan Harper then came in to pinch hit and laid down a sacrifice bunt which allowed Arroyo to score the tying run.
The game winner came in the bottom of the eleventh inning when Young led off with a home run to right center.
Martin took the loss for the Warriors, after giving up one run on two hits in two plus innings of work.
In the second game, Westmont fell behind early, giving up two runs in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Warriors responded with three wins in the top of the second to take a 3-2 lead. Leary was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. One out later, he advanced to second on a single to left field by David Gabel.
Mitch Petrak then loaded the bases with a single through the left side.
Vanguard pitcher Kevin Ponzo walked the next three batters – Hunter Christenson, Brent Fukushima and Jarratt Rouse – to give Westmont a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Lions evened up the score at three-all on a sacrifice fly by Henry Yates and the score remained tied throughout the regulation seven innings.
In the top of the eighth inning, Leary reached on a lead-off single then took second on a wild pitch. After Cress walked, Gabel laid down a bunt and beat it out for a single that loaded the bases with no outs. Petrak then hit an infield single to second to drive in a run and keep the bases loaded. Two outs later, Rouse singled to left field, driving in the final two runs.
Reliever Mitch Crocker was awarded the win. He pitched one and one-third inning without allowing a hit or a run. Ryan Sullivan started the game and pitched six and two-third innings. He was charged with three runs on five hits. Sullivan struck out seven and walked two.
In other GSAC action, Biola took two from San Diego Christian and Concordia swept Fresno Pacific. Both results were good for the Warriors.
After today, Westmont finds itself in seventh place in the GSAC standings, one game behind Fresno Pacific and two games behind Vanguard. In order to earn a place in next week’s GSAC Tournament, the Warriors must win both games in tomorrow’s doubleheader against Vangaurd. If they do so, they will be the fifth or sixth seed in the six-team tournament, depending on where Fresno Pacific finishes. The doubleheader is scheduled for first pitch at noon at Westmont’s Russ Carr Field. However, fans are encouraged to arrive by 11:30 a.m. to help honor six seniors in their final home games.
