IRVINE — Westmont Baseball (17-7, 11-6 GSAC), picked up a Golden State Athletic Conference win on Friday afternoon over #18 Concordia (21-4, 16-3) in the first game of a three-game series. The Warriors outhit the Eagles 9-5 and also benefited from four Concordia miscues.
Russell Harmening picked up the win for the Warriors, his sixth of the year against one loss. Harmening pitched seven and one-third innings giving up two runs on two hits. He struck out seven and walked two.
The Warriors scored one run in the top of the first. After Alex Bush delivered a one-out triple, Will Barring drove a ball to left field for a sacrifice fly.
Concordia evened the score in the bottom of the first when Mitchell Esser doubled to drive in Ryan Goodman. Esser was thrown out trying to stretch the two-bagger into a triple.
The Warriors went up 3-1 in the top of the third inning. Ryan Crowe reached on an error to start things off and was replaced on the base pads by Ryan Beveridge. Michael Stefanic advanced Beveridge to second on a sacrifice bunt before Bush hit a single up the middle to drive in the courtesy runner.
After Bush took second on a single by Barring, Blake Matthias doubled down the right field line to drive in Bush. Barring attempted to score as well but was thrown out at the plate.
Westmont added two more runs in the fourth to give Harmening a four-run cushion. Graylin Derke produced a lead of single to center, and then scored when Steven Pollex tripled to right center. One out later, Pollex scored on a single to left by Crowe.
The Warriors extended their lead in the seventh after Crowe received a walk to lead off the inning. Once again, Beveridge served as a courtesy runner for Crowe and once again Stefanic delivered another sacrifice bunt. One out later, Matthias singled through the right side to drive in Beveridge.
Concordia threatened in the eighth inning, loading the bases with just one away. Harmening was replaced on the mound by Taylor Martin who coaxed a ground ball out of Esser to produce one out. Pinch hitter John Bornhop scored on the play. Neil Lawhorn then lined out to third to end the inning. Martin also pitched the scoreless ninth.
The Warriors and Eagles will meet up again in Irvine tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 11:00 a.m.
