Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionwestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College baseball team wrapped up their three game series with Caltech Saturday earning 14-3 and 16-1 victories on the afternoon to improve to 3-5, 3-0 SCIAC.
Whittier combined for 30 runs on 28 hits in two games. Head Coach Mike Rizzo was able to unload his bench and get his new freshman some quality playing time.
Game 1 (W, 14-3)
Whittier opened up the scoring in the second inning when Willie Renard grounded out to the first baseman plating Cody Martinez who reached on a double. Ben Cerami then got into the mix the following inning bringing around two runs after a single.
Caltech would get on the board in the Top of the 4th after Menninger was balked in following his double and a wild pitch, but Whittier would respond getting four runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two run shot from Stephen Zavala that plated Graham Pimm.
The Purple & Gold weren't done there as they would come back in the 5th and add another seven runs on six hits, which included a double from Cerami that brought in James Stafford and Julian Barzilli.
Curtis Martin got the start on the mound for the Poets and picked up his first win of the season going 7.0 innings giving up two runs on five hits to go with eight strikeouts. Derek Kearney was tagged with the loss giving up seven runs on 15 hits over 6.0 innings of work.
Game 2 (W, 16-1)
In the second game of the doubleheader the Poets used a big 12 run 2nd inning en route to the 16-1 victory. Barzilli doubled in the first run of the game in the bottom of the 1st. Then in the 2nd the floodgates opened with the Poets adding twelve runs on six hits and four errors by the Beavers.
Whittier would add another two runs in the 4th after Andrew Ponce reached on a fielder's choice plating Chris Sekiguchi before Bryson Kihara would single in Ponce two batters later. Ryan Nakamura added the final run for WC driving in Stafford in the bottom of the 5th.
Justin Cheatham threw a complete game going 7.0 innings giving up one run on one hit to go with five strikeouts. Menninger got the start for Caltech and was chased after 5.0 innings giving up seven runs on 13 hits.
Whittier remains in Conference play as they travel to Claremont-M-S this Friday, February 21 to open a three game series. First pitch is set for 2:30pm. The Poets then return home the following day, February 22 to host CMS with game times set for 11:00am and 2:30pm.
