A split of today’s doubleheader resulted in Westmont Baseball (4-1, 2-1 GSAC) taking two out of three from the Hawks of San Diego Christian (5-2, 1-2) in the Golden State Athletic Conference opening series for both teams.
In the morning game, San Diego Christian posted a 6-4 win over the Warriors. However, the Warriors rebounded in the second game with a 5-3 win.
Gabriel Hemmer (1-0) started for the Hawks in the first game and picked up the win after giving up just one run on six hits in seven innings of work. Westmont’s J.P Cohn (0-1) was charged with the loss. Cohn allowed three runs on four hits in five and two third innings of work.
San Diego Christian had a three to one lead going into the top of the ninth but added three runs on five hits to give the Hawks a five run advantage. As it turned out, the additional runs were just what the Hawks needed.
In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Blake Matthias delivered a one-out pinch hit single. One out later, Matthias stole second, then scored on a base hit by freshman pinch hitter Spencer Ferdun. That brought junior outfielder Chris Stroh who smashed a towering shot over the right field fence to score two more. That was as much as the Warriors would muster, however.
In the second game, Westmont’s Russell Harmening took the hill and picked up his second win of the year (2-0) going four and one-third innings in the seven-inning game. Harmening allowed three runs on five hits. He struck out four and walked three.
Hunter Christenson closed out the final two and two-third innings to pick up the save. Christenson allowed just two hits and did not give up a run.
The Warriors struck first, recording two runs in the bottom of the second inning. With two away, sophomore designated hitter Will Barring walked and then took second when junior outfielder Chito Elias singled to left. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch and then scored on a double down the left field line by junior shortstop Brent Fukushima.
In the top of the third, it appeared that the Hawks had tied the game up at two, but an appeal limited the damage to just one run. With one in, one out and the bases loaded, Hawks’ designated hitter Taylor Eichhorst delivered what appeared to be a sacrifice fly to left field.
Stroh, playing in left, made the catch, but then lost control when transferring the ball for his throw to the plate. All three runners advanced a base with Alex Mann dashing from third to home. Eichhorst stood on first until the field umpire confirmed the catch by Stroh and therefore the second out of the inning.
Once the second out was confirmed by the field umpire, Westmont head coach Robert Ruiz appealed to the home plate umpire, saying that Mann had left third base early. The umpire immediately confirmed Ruiz’ appeal and called Mann out, taking the run off the board and retiring the side.
The Warriors added one more run in the bottom of the third and two more in the bottom of the fourth. In the third, senior David Pennington led off with a double down the left field line and later scored on a wild pitch. In the fifth inning, Stroh delivered an RBI double, driving in Fukushima who had doubled before him. Stroh would also score on a wild pitch.
The Hawks added two runs in the top of the fifth, but would manage no more. Starter Kelvan Pilot was charged with the loss after giving up five runs on six hits. He struck out two and walked three.
Next up for the Warriors is a homestand with Biola (5-1, 2-1) this coming weekend. On Friday, the two teams will square off at two o’clock for a single game. Then on Saturday, a doubleheader will begin at eleven o’clock.
