Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Mike Rizzo earned his 300th victory Friday afternoon as the Whittier College Baseball team edged the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer 8-7 at Memorial Field.
Rizzo becomes the first Whittier College baseball coach to earn this milestone and is the longest tenured Head Coach in the history of the program as he begins his 18th season at the helm of the Poet baseball program.
His overall record over the past 18 seasons is 300-382-4 and his conference record moves to 180-217.
After two scoreless innings Whittier got after Sagehen ace David Gerics putting up two runs in the bottom half of the third. Dmitri Washington (Peoria, AZ) walked to lead things off and was moved over following a sacrifice by Brandon Mulrooney (Placentia, Calif.). Max Morohashi (Encino, Calif.) walked to put runners on first and second before moving up 90 feet following a stolen base.
With two outs, Jake Raynaud (Los Gatos, Calif.) then stepped up and drove a fastball into right field that brought in both runners putting the Purple & Gold on top.
In the fifth, Pomona-Pitzer got after Matthew Macey (Oceanside, Calif.) bringing across four runs on three hits. This would put PP on top 4-2 but it would be short-lived as Whittier would respond in the bottom half of the inning putting up a three spot as Max Bradshaw (Salt Lake City, UT) went yard to deep center that scored Raynaud and Tanner Marcoe (Northridge, Calif.).
The Sagehens would get another chance going back on top 6-5 soon after with a two-run blast from Bryce Rogan but this would be the last time PP would go in front as Whittier would again rally with another three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
Mulrooney led off the inning with a walk. Marcoe beat out a bunt for a single putting runners on first and second. Hank Burditt (Granada Hills, Calif.) doubled down the left field line that scored one and Bradshaw would ground out to the pitcher, which scored Marcoe who hustled down the line. Dylan DeBrouwer (Manteca, Calif.) would cap off the rally with a double, which scored the Poets final run.
Leading 8-6, PP would get another back in the eighth as Kevin Brice would take Jaycob Delbarrio (Las Vegas, NV) yard that cut the deficit to one. But Royce Komesu (Kailua, HI) was able to come in and quiet the Sagehen bats picking up his first save on the season. But the big play came in the ninth as sophomore catcher Andrew Fierro (Riverside, Calif.) would throw out Tanner Nishioka attempting to steal second that stopped the PP rally in its tracks.
Raynaud finished 2-4 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Bradshaw was 1-4 with a run scored and four RBI's and Fierro was 2-4.
Macey had a strong start giving up the four runs on eight hits. He left with the no decision as Delbarrio would pick up his first victory of the season coming in relief for 1.2 innings.
Whittier ends the three game series with Pomona-Pitzer tomorrow, Saturday, March 5 with a doubleheader on the road with game times set for 11:00am and 2:30pm.
