Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College baseball team remains hot winning four of their last five capped off with a strong 11-8 win over Eastern Mennonite Tuesday afternoon.

After a slow start to the season, Whittier is now 5-9, 2-4 SCIAC and continue to swing it putting up 11 runs on 11 hits at Memorial Field.

The Purple & Gold wasted little time putting up a three spot in the bottom half of the first.  Jake Raynaud (Los Gatos, Calif.) doubled to left center that brought in a pair and Hank Burditt (Granada Hills, Calif.) singled to right field bringing across another.

The Royals got two back in the third that cut the lead down to one.  Whittier would add another in the fourth with Mason Blansett (Lodi, Calif.) singled to right field scoring Burditt who tripled to left center that started off the inning.

Eastern Mennonite would scrap back adding another two runs in the top half of the fifth that tied the game up at 4-4 and would take the lead an inning later with a two spot moving the score to 6-5. 

Whittier didn't go away quietly though scoring another three runs in the sixth with Matthew Macey (Oceanside, Calif.) doubling down the left field line scoring Dylan DeBrouwer (Manteca, Calif.) and Brandon Mulrooney (Placentia, Calif.) and Raynaud then stepped up hitting a hot shot to the shortstop allowing Macey to score.

This put Whittier back on top 8-6 giving them a lead they wouldn't relinquish as they would put up another three spot in the eighth on three hits that put the game out of reach.  Tanner Marcoe (Northridge, Calif.) added a sacrifice fly scoring DeBrouwer, Dmitri Washington (Peoria, AZ) singled to left center plating Macey and Raynaud would come in on a wild pitch. 

The Royals though would fight in the ninth making the game close adding two runs on three hits forcing Macey out of the game but Nick Garcia (Anaheim, Calif.) was able to come in and secure the save.

Raynaud continues to swing a hot bat going 3-4 for the game with two runs scored and four runs batted in.  Macey was 2-4 with three runs scored and two RBI's and Burditt was 3-3 with a run scored and an RBi.                   

Whittier returns to SCIAC play this weekend as they open a three game series with Occidental.  This Friday, march 11 they host the Tigers beginning at 2:30pm and will travel on the road the following day for a doubleheader.