Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
CLAREMONT, Calif. –The Whittier College baseball team after having their twin bill split up onto two days after inclement weather stopped the second game in the fifth inning yesterday afternoon, Whittier was able to hold on for the 9-6 victory getting their first SCIAC win of the season.
Whittier now improves to 2-4, 1-2 SCIAC, while Pomona-Pitzer drops to 3-1-1, 2-1 SCIAC.
It took the rest of four innings to obtain the win but the Purple & Gold were able to prevail despite giving up three runs in the 8th.
After one inning of play, Pomona led 2-1 and then Whittier came back to tie up the game at two apiece in the third but busted the game wide open putting up a five spot in the 4th taking their first lead of the contest 7-3. From here the rain came and forced a rain delay and the game was eventually called forcing the game to be finished this afternoon.
With this momentum swing and the turn of events including the rain, Coach Rizzo was hopeful his guys could pull out the win despite coming back the following day, something they have not experienced yet this season.
The Poets continued where they left off from yesterday as Mike Rueda continued to dominate on the mound going 4.0 innings giving up two runs on two hits helping him achieve his first win of the season.
Alex Mitchell who has been a catalyst in the leadoff spot again had a tremendous game going 3-4 with a hit and two walks, while Andrew Vallejo added onto what has become a strong start to a season as he went 2-5 with one run and four RBI's.
Josh Genzuk who has been plugged into the shortstop position due to the injury to Christian Loera came up big at the plate going 2-5 with a run and one RBI, and Cory Goodchild finished 3-5 knocking in two runs himself.
Up next for the Poets is a trip to Arizona where they will take on teams including Whitman, Sul Ross State University, McMurry University, and Pacific Lutheran covering three days on February 17,18, 19 with the games scheduled for:
February 17
Whittier vs. Whitman (10:00am)
Whittier vs. Sul Ross State University (1:30pm)
February 18
Whittier vs. McMurry University (1:30pm)
February 19
Whittier vs. Pacific Lutheran (9:00am)
