Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Senior Bobby Santoyo saw his no hit bid broken up in the 4th as the Whittier baseball team dropped a 9-6 non-conference match-up with Concordia University Tuesday afternoon.
Whittier who was taking on Div. II Concordia (Calif.) who came into the game 16-8 opened the game up with three runs in the first two innings that gave them an early lead.
Head Coach Mike Rizzo who changed up his starting lineup due to an injury to leadoff man Corey Jensen, saw his batters not skip a beat as Julian Barzilli crushed a double to left center in the first that scored Alex Mitchell before Whittier plated two in the second behind a sacrifice fly from Christian Loera and a single from Mitchell.
Santoyo then took over pitching three innings of no hit ball, while holding the Eagles scoreless over four innings. But in the 5th, Concordia (Calif.) got on the board putting three runs across after an opening double from Dimascio and a single from Kopacz. This tied the game at three before Concordia took their first lead of the game in the ensuing inning when Dimascio homered to left.
In the 7th, the Eagles added another three runs to extend their lead to 7-3 before the Poets mounted their comeback adding two of their own after they loaded the bases and saw Jonathan Whipple knock in Stephen Zavala and Mitchell with a single up the middle.
After pulling within two, the Eagles again added insurance on a crucial call when Lee homered down the left field line that according to the umpire went around the inside of the pole when many thought it went foul. This put CUI up by three 8-5 and despite Whittier bringing one across and threatening in the 9th it wasn't enough to pull off the victory as they fell 9-6.
Santoyo was charged with the loss after going 5.2 innings giving up two earned runs on five hits. Mitchell finished 2-5 with two runs scored, while Whipple finished 2-5 with two runs batted in.
Whittier returns to SCIAC competition this weekend when they open with a three game series with the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer with game one set for Friday, March 8 at 2:30pm on the road.
