Solo home runs in the final inning of each game proved to be the deciding factor as Westmont Baseball (21-13, 18-13 PacWest) lost a pair of pitchers’ duels in Saturday’s doubleheader with Jessup (24-16, 14-14). The Warriors fell 5-4 in the first game and 1-0 in the second.
In the early game, Joey Rico took the mound for the Warriors, producing one of the strongest starts of the year. Rico gave up a lead-off single to Colby Pudge on the first pitch of the game, then retired the next 11 batters in a row.
Since Pudge was thrown out trying to steal second, Rico had faced the minimum number of batters through four innings of work.
Westmont batters broke through against Jessup starter Diego Chavez in the bottom of the fourth, starting with a lead-off single to left by Grant Yzermans.
The Warriors’ left fielder advanced to second on a wild pitch, then one out later, took third on a ground out by Jesse Di Maggio. With two away. Aaron Jacobsen singled up the middle, driving in Yzermans and giving Westmont a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fifth Jessup finally produced a baserunner when Landyn Plaut walked. Plaut advanced to second when Cody Antone singled up the middle. However, Rico retired the next three batters – the first on a flyout to center and the next two by strikeouts. That gave Rico 10 strikeouts in five innings of work.
In the bottom of the fifth, Westmont doubled its advantage. Zach Mora led off the inning with a single through the left side, then took second with Aiden Voyles walked. A single by Isaac Veal loaded the bases with Warriors before Noah Williams hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Mora and make it a 2-0 lead.
Rico retired the first two batters in the top of the sixth, but then ran into some trouble. After a walk by Tony Otis, Quinton Hall hit an RBI-double to left to plate Otis. Then, Landyn Plaut singled through the right side, driving in Hall.
After Cody Antone walked giving Jessup runners and first and second, Adam Reyes singled up the middle as Jessup took a 3-2 lead.
That brought an end to Rico’s day on the mound, though he remained in the game as Westmont’s designated hitter. Nick Romero took over the pitching duties and finished off the inning by inducing a ground ball to short.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Westmont retook the lead. Jacobsen’s lead-off single was followed by a full-count walk by Braydon Griffin.
Mora’s ground ball got past the shortstop allowing Jacobsen to score and Griffin to reach second. That made the score 3-3 and left runners at first and second with no outs.
Griffin stole third on the next pitch, literally dislodging the base from the ground. After the bag was replaced, Voyles drove Griffin in with a sacrifice fly to right, giving Westmont a 4-3 lead.
KJ Rieden pitched the seventh and eighth innings for Westmont and the Warriors held on to the lead until the top of the eighth inning when Hall hit a lead-off home run to right field, tying the game at four all.
In the top of the ninth, Brandon Tatch took over mound duties. After retiring the first batter on a fly ball to left, Jessup’s Gabe Harris delivered a pinch-hit, solo home run to right, giving the visitors a one-run lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Rico doubled down the right field line with one away. Di Maggio was then intentionally walked, putting the potential winning run on base. However, Westmont was unable to advance the runners, twice flying out to center field.
Tatch was charged with the loss, dropping his record to 2-1 on the year.
The second game was a classic pitchers’ duel with Westmont’s Caden Beloian facing off against Jessup’s Eric Vasser. Through five scoreless innings, Vasser had surrendered just two hits while Beloian had allowed just one.
With one away in the top of the sixth, Pudge singled through the left side to give Jessup its first baserunner in eight batters. However, Beloian retired the next two batters on a flyout to center and a ground ball to short.
In the bottom of the sixth, Rico worked a full-count, lead-off walk. Veal laid down a bunt that was intended as a sacrifice. A throwing error on the play, however, allowed Rico to take third and Veal to reach second.
However, Westmont was unable to take advantage of the situation as the next three batters were retired without an opportunity for either runner to advance.
That sent the scoreless game into the seventh and final inning. After Plaut lined out to third, Antone homered down the left-field line on an 0-1 count for the first and only run of the game.
Westmont had another chance to score in the bottom of the seventh after back-to-back singles by Griffin Brown and Noah Williams to lead off the final frame. Once again, however, Westmont’s next three batters were retired, bringing the game to a close.
Vasser was awarded the win for Jessup and Jordan Cezar, who entered the game after Brown’s lead-off single, earned the save.
Beloian, though he was credited with a complete game, took the hard-luck loss. Beloian allowed just three hits, struck out three and issued just one walk.
“The guys competed today,” said Westmont’s head coach Paul Svagdis. “We got some very competitive pitching today from Rico, Rieden, Tatch and Beloian. In each of the games, we were one hit away from making something happen. I wouldn’t want to be on the field battling through adversity with any other crew of young men.”
Westmont has a challenging schedule ahead with seven games in six days. On Wednesday, April 15, the Warriors will play Hawai’i Pacific at Vanguard in the first of three make-up games. First pitch is at 11:00 a.m.
Two days later – Friday and Saturday, April 17-18 – Westmont will be at Point Loma for four games against the conference leader. The following Monday, April 20, the Warriors will return to Vanguard for a doubleheader with Hawai’i Pacific.