Westmont Baseball (13-3) suffered both its first home loss and its first non-conference loss of the season on Thursday afternoon at Russ Carr Field. The Warriors fell to the Thunderbirds of #24 British Columbia by a score of 4-1.
Alex Bush (0-1) took the loss for the Warriors after giving up two runs on five hits in five innings of work. Bush stuck out one and walked one. British Columbia’s starter Jeremy Newton (3-1) was awarded the win. Newton allowed one run on six hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.
A lead-off home run by Jerod Bartnik over the right field fence in the top of the fourth gave the Thunderbirds the lead. Westmont answered back in the bottom half of the inning when Will Barring scored on a fielder’s choice by Michael Pollex. Barring had earlier led off the inning with a walk.
In the top of the fifth, British Columbia’s Brendan Rose and Kevin Brio hit back-to-back singles to give the Thunderbirds men on first and second with no outs. On each of the next two at bats, however, British Columbia’s lead runner was put out by third baseman Graylin Derke. Just when it seemed Westmont might get out of the inning with no damage done, the Thunderbird’s Tyler Enns singled up the middle and Kyle McComb scored from second base.
The Warriors had a chance to even the score in the bottom of the sixth. Will Barring produced a one-out double to left field. Blake Matthias then singled to center and Barring was waved home. However, Enns, the centerfielder, through a strike to catcher Cam Firth and Barring was tagged out sliding toward the plate.
British Columbia tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh to account for the final score.
Westmont will return to action tomorrow when they host the Lions of Vanguard in the first of three Golden State Athletic Conference games at Russ Carr Field. On Friday, the two teams will meet up at two o’clock. Then on Saturday, action will continue with an eleven o’clock doubleheader.
