Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College baseball team hosted Pacific University in a non-conference contest on Monday afternoon. While utilizing a variety of different players throughout the course of the game, the Poets fell to the Boxers, 8-2.
On the mound for the Purple & Gold, sophomore pitcher Thomas Hemington got the start but left the game after throwing 3.0 complete with the game all tied up at two.
The Poets struck first with a run in the bottom half of the first with a solo shot from Stephen Zavala that went over the left center field fence. But this lead was short-lived as the Boxers would plate two in the top half of the second thanks to a two out Gaff single to left.
Whittier would however even the game up at two in the bottom half of the third when Zavala came around to score after a bunt single by Jonathan Whipple and an error by the third baseman.
After a scoreless 5th, Pacific would bring across one more after a squeeze bunt brought home Moen and they would have been setup to bring across one more but Bradley was gunned down at home trying to score from second with a bang bang play from Max Bradshaw to Zavala that ended the rally.
In the top half of the 8th, the Boxers got the bases loaded with two outs, but on the ensuing three at bats Tasaka walked, Olis doubled to left, and French singled to right that brought around five to put Pacific in front for good 8-2.
Whittier threatened in the bottom half after getting the leadoff man on with a walk but Zavala grounded into the 643 double play that ended the Poet rally allowing Pacific to escape with the victory on Memorial Field.
Nick Garcia was charged with the loss after going 4.2 innings surrendering three runs on four hits. Morton was given the win after he pitched a strong 7.0 innings of work giving up one earned run on five hits.
Zavala led the Poets offensively going 2-3 with two runs scored and a run batted in, while Bradley finished 3-4 with a run scored for the Boxers.
Whittier finishes up non-conference action with the loss this afternoon and will finish off the season with all conference games. They begin this weekend with a three game series with Occidental hitting the road on Friday, March 29 for a solo game at Oxy before returning home on Saturday, March 30 for a doubleheader with game times slated for 11:00am and 2:30pm.
