The bunt was huge for Westmont’s baseball team in a 14-inning 10-9 win at Azusa Pacific in the opener of a doubleheader.
With one out in the top of the 14th, Daniel Netz laid down a perfect push bunt for an infield single. Alex Stufft then hit a chopper back to the pitcher, who rushed his throw and airmailed the ball into the right field. Netz took third on the throw and Stufft remained at first.
With two strikes, Parker O’Neil laid down a safety-squeeze up the first base line. Azusa let the ball roll, hoping to see it go foul. The bunt, however, hugged the first base chalk and hit the first base bag to allow the go-ahead run to score.
In the bottom of the 14th, Drew Bayard made a diving catch with a runner on base and Chase Goddard struck out the final batter to end the 4-hour, 48-minute game and earn the first of his Westmont career. He pitches five scoreless innings.
Azusa Pacific won the nightcap, 7-0.
On the crazy ending to the opener, Westmont coach Robert Ruiz said: “That late in the game, sometimes you have to find a weird way to get the job done. Right there, we tried to bring the element of surprise, and luckily it went in our favor. That’s a tough thing to be called on for, a push bunt with two strikes, so for Parker to execute there was huge for us.”
Westmont, ranked 13th in the NAIA, is 10-5 on the season.
— Noozhawk sports editor Barry Punzal can be reached at bpunzal@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk Sports on Twitter: @NoozhawkSports. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.