Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College baseball team held a 4-1 lead Friday afternoon at Memorial Field but couldn't hold off a late surge by the Leopards of the University of La Verne as they fell 6-5 that opened a three game series.
This marks the sixth straight loss for the Poets as they drop to 2-12, 1-6 SCIAC, while La Verne improves to 9-5, 8-2 SCIAC.
The Leopards opened up the scoring in the top half of the second with a single from Tyler Watkins that brought in Zach Quinones. The Poets responded in their half though with a run on three hits. With two outs, Marquis Kidd (Diamond Bar, Calif.) singled through the right side and was followed by a Max Bradshaw (Salt Lake City, UT) single up the middle before a Graham Pimm (Clayton, Calif.) single to right would plate the first Poet run.
The very next inning, Whittier would go out in front thanks a two run shot by senior first baseman Cody Martinez (Whittier, Calif.) thatscoredStephen Zavala (Whittier, Calif.) who reached on a single up the middle. Prior to that, Zavala brought in Armando Valdez (Whittier, Calif.) who reached on a fielder's choice.
Whittier remained out in front 4-1 for the next two innings until the Leos struck for two in the sixth sparked by a Jared Hovsepian double down the right field line that cut the deficit to one. They then added another the very next inning that tied the game up and would go back out in front with a two spot in the eighth that came on a Ben White single up the middle.
Trailing by two, Whittier put together a comeback in the ninth. Ben Cerami (Berkeley, Calif.) was hit by a pitch and moved up following a walk to Charlie Mayfield (Placentia, Calif.). Zavala then sacrificed them both over and Martinez brought in his third run of the game with a groundout to second. But the game tying run would be stranded at third as Matthew Macey (Oceanside, Calif.) grounded out to the pitcher that ended the rally.
Despite a strong start by Justin Ushio (Mililani, HI) who went 5.0 innings giving up one run, he received the no decision, while Cerami was tagged with the loss giving up three runs on hits, while walking four in two innings of work.
Martinez finished 3-5 with a run scored and three RBI's. Zavala was 1-3 with a run scored and a run batted in.
