Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College baseball team received two strong pitching performances from Thomas Hemington and Nick Garcia but came away with a split Saturday afternoon against the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer.
Whittier now improves to 8-8 on the season and 6-3 in SCIAC moving into a three-way tie for 4th place in the SCIAC standings with La Verne and Cal Lutheran.
Game 1 (L, 3-1)
Sophomore lefty Hemington got the start in the first game going 6.0 innings surrendering two runs on seven hits but was charged with the loss after the Poets managed to push just one run across for their second lowest offensive output of the season.
The Poets got their lone run in the bottom half of the 1st when senior Alex Mitchell stole home after Corey Jensen attempted to steal second. When Jensen got caught in a pickle, Mitchell stole home getting underneath the tag of Bowers.
From there Sagehen freshman Cameron Yen quieted the Poet bats going the distance giving up six hits to go with five strikeouts. Hemington held the one run lead through four but got into trouble in the 5th when he gave up two after a Rosenbaum double and that proved enough as the Sagehens would add an insurance run in the 8th preserving the two run victory.
Whittier was led offensively by Mitchell who finished 2-3 with a run scored.
Game 2 (W, 4-3)
In the second game of the doubleheader the Poets saw a strong pitching performance from freshman Garcia who went 7.1 innings giving up three runs on seven hits. Despite seeing a no decision, the Poet lefty continues to remain strong in his first season with the Purple & Gold.
Whittier jumped out in front after getting a run in the bottom of the 2nd thanks to Julian Barzilli who connected for his sixth homerun of the season. Pomona would however take their first lead of the game after they plated two in the top of the 4th. But the Poets responded evening the game at two with a two out rally in the bottom of the 6th thanks to a wild pitch that brought home Jensen.
In the 8th, Pomona-Pitzer managed to bring one run across to take a one run lead. Garcia was then relieved by Dallas Voyce and he came in and shut down the Pomona rally stranding two.
On the verge of being swept in the series, the Purple & Gold answered in the bottom of the 8th bringing across the tying and eventual game winning runs thanks to a two out rally sparked by a walk from Willie Renard and a single from Jensen.
PP threatened in their half of the 9th getting the tying run in scoring position but Bobby Santoyo managed to get Madden to ground out helping the Poets come away with the victory.
Jensen finished the game going 2-5 with a run scored and an RBI, while Barzilli finished 2-2 with two runs scored and a run batted in.
Whittier has a short turnaround as they host North Park tomorrow, Monday, March 10 with first pitch set for 2:30pm.
