Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College baseball team used a high-octane offense against the Lewis & Clark Pioneers for the second time in the past three days putting up a 17-11 effort to move to 2-8.

Whittier finished a four game round robin tournament against Bates and Lewis & Clark Sunday finishing 2-2.  In total for the two games against the Pioneers, Whittier combined for 32 runs on 30 hits.

Sunday afternoon, Whittier got all over Pio starter Bradley Bourdase getting four runs on three hits against him in just 3.0 innings.

Lewis & Clark got on top with two runs in the second inning with Spencer Gutterman doubling to right center that brought in a pair.  But this would be the last time the Pios would lead as Whittier would storm back to add nine runs over the third and fourth innings. 

Jake Raynaud (Los Gatos, Calif.) doubled down the left field line and moved to third following an error by the left fielder that cleared the base paths before eventually scoring on a passed ball. 

Five runs came across in the fourth on just two hits.  Mason Blansett (Lodi, Calif.) singled to third base and was followed by walks by Dmitri Washington (Peoria, AZ) and Brandon Mulrooney (Placentia, Calif.) that loaded the bases.  Tanner Marcoe (Northridge, Calif.) then reached on an error by the third baseman right before Matthew Macey (Oceanside, Calif.) connected with a deep fly ball to left that brought in another run.  After an intentional walk to Raynaud, Max Bradshaw (Salt Lake City, UT) walked that brought in the third Poet run right before a Dylan DeBrouwer (Manteca, Calif.) single up the middle that brought in a pair.

The Pioneers again rallied for two runs in the fifth that pulled them within four but WC would extend their lead to 13-5 following a big sixth inning where they put up another four runs on four hits.  Macey ripped a fastball through the left side, Raynaud doubled to left field, Debrouwer singled up the middle and Hank Burditt added a pinch hit single to left center. 

In the eighth, Whittier added another four runs to their crooked number this time with DeBrouwer singling to right field, Grant Grainger (Long Beach, Calif.) connecting on a deep sacrifice fly to left, and Mulrooney doubling to right center. 

But in the ninth, Lewis & Clark would provide a scare putting up six runs on just two hits, which included a grand slam to deep right center from Nick Lockwood.  But Royce Komesu (Kailua, HI) would come in and get the final out for the Purple & Gold as they held on for their second victory on the season.

DeBrouwer had a huge game for the Poets going 3-5 with two runs scored and three RBI's.  Blansett was 2-4 with three runs scored, Raynaud was 2-3 with three runs scored and four RBI's, and Macey and Mulrooney were each 2-3 and 2-4, each respectively combining for three runs scored and three runs batted in.

Since Alex Baez (Chino Hills, Calif.) did not go five innings, the win goes to Zachary Peyton (Fullerton, Calif.) who came in relief throwing 1.2 innings surrendering just one hit.              

Whittier has a week off to begin preparations for a three game series with Pomona-Pitzer.  The Poets host the Sagehens this Friday, March 4 at 2:30pm before traveling to Claremont, Calif. for a doubleheader the next day on Saturday, March 5 with first pitches slated for 11:00am and 2:30pm.