Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College baseball team opened up their doubleheader with the University of La Verne a day after senior Ryan Schwenn pitched a no hitter but got down early unable to complete the comeback falling 4-3.
Whittier now drops to 13-14, while La Verne improves to 18-10.
Senior Taylor Fallon started on the mound for the Poets coming into today's contest with the lowest ERA in SCIAC with a 1.53. He went 6.0 innings giving up four runs (1 earned) on six hits to go with three strikeouts but was tagged with the loss as his record now drops to 2-3.
La Verne struck first in the top half of the first but only managed one run despite Ludvik striking a ball off Fallojn's chest that went into center field that moved runners into scoring position. After a Hazel single to right field one run came across but the runner from second attempted to score but was gunned out at home from Alex Mitchell stopping the Leopard run.
After L a Verne added three runs in the third, Whittier answered right back with three runs of their own to pull within one after two singles from A. Mitchell and Josh Genzuk, while Cory Goodchild drove in a run with a fielder's choice.
Whittier continued to be aggressive at the plate getting numerous scoring opportunities but La Verne's defense was too much as they knocked down every ball and caught every ball no matter where it was stopping every Whittier opportunity with two outs.
Whittier's Andrew Vallejo for the second straight game missed hitting for the cycle as he needed a homerun to complete it. He led off the game with a double, then followed that up with a walk and then hit a triple in his next at bat, followed by a ducksnort up the middle and then in the ninth he grounded a ball out to the first baseman that stopped his quest for the cycle in its tracks.
After the third inning both pitchers buckled down and retired the sides keeping the next six innings scoreless with the help of the bullpen. Austin Nogueira for Whittier came in relief and pitched 2.0 innings giving up one hit to go with two strikeouts while Andrew Pigott pitched a scoreless ninth striking out one.
On La Verne's side Knight came in and pitched 5.0 innings in relief of Rollon who pitched 3.0 innings giving up three runs on five hits. Knight struck out five and surrendered a mere three hits. Hebert then came in the ninth and shut the Poets down in order to collect his first save of the season.
Whittier was led by Vallejo who finished 3-4 with a single, double, triple, and a walk, while A. Mitchell finished 2-4 with a run.
The Purple & Gold bounce back as they complete the series with La Verne tomorrow Sunday, April 1 beginning at 12pm. The game is being played tomorrow because of the lack of umpire personnel who were unavailable to complete the doubleheader this afternoon.
