Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Baseball team held a 7-5 lead heading into the 9th inning Friday afternoon but couldn't hold it as George Fox University would put up six runs en route to the come from behind victory.
It was a game of momentum at Hugh B. Mendez Stadium and the Purple & Gold fell unlucky in their series opener with George Fox. They drop now to 15-11, 4-8 SCIAC.
Alex Baez (Chino Hills, Calif.) got the start for Whittier and he had a tough start giving up five runs on six hits in 4.0 innings. He left with the no decision. The Poets trailed 5-0 through six innings and but came right back in the 7th putting up a six spot that swung the momentum.
Andrew Lamar (Alta Loma, Calif.) got the inning started with a walk, Matthew Macey (Oceanside, Calif.) followed getting hit by a pitch and Michael Angulo (Sunnyvale, Calif.) loaded the bases reaching on an error by the second baseman. After a Dmitri Washington (Peoria, AZ) walk that brought in one, junior transfer John Vuz (Blairstown, NJ) stepped in and connected to left for a grand slam and his second homerun on the season that deadlocked the game at 5-5. But Whittier wasn't done there as the rally continued with Andrew Fierro (Riverside, Calif.) and Daniel Tuerffs (Yorba Linda, Calif.) both getting base knocks putting runners into scoring position.
Then with one out, Brandon Mulrooney (Placentia, Calif.) came up clutch driving in the go ahead run with a sacrifice fly to left.
In the 8th, Whittier added to their lead with an insurance run as Washington would go yard moving the score to 7-5. But this lead wouldn't hold as GFU would rally with six runs on four hits in the 9th, capped off with a two-run shot from Jarryd Seamons that secured the come from behind victory.
Justin Ushio (Mililani, HI) who came in to start the 9th was charged with the loss lasting .2 innings giving up three runs on three hits. He drops to 2-1. Washington finished 2-3 on the game with two runs scored and an RBI. Vuz was 1-2 with a run scored and four RBI's and Fierro was 1-2 scoring once.
Whittier wraps up the three game series with George Fox today, Saturday, March 31 with game times set for 10:00am and 1:00pm.
