Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Baseball team opened up a three-game series with Caltech Friday afternoon at Hugh B. Mendez Stadium and in a must win series, the Purple & Gold couldn't overcome a big 4th Inning by the Beavers falling 9-7.
Whittier drops back to .500 at 16-16, 6-10 SCIAC. They trailed 8-1 in the 5th and despite bringing across four in the 6th and a pair in the 9th, it wouldn't be enough to complete the comeback.
Caltech got on top 2-0 but saw that cut in half by Jacob Bauer (Pleasanton, Calif.) who powered a solo shot down the left field line in the bottom half of the 2nd. After a scoreless 3rd, Caltech found their bats in the 4th scoring six runs on six hits, while capitalizing on an error. In the 6th, CIT used another Poet miscue to add another run moving the score to 9-1.
This lead however wouldn't hold as Whittier would add a four spot coming on a pair of hits. Mason Blansett (Lodi, Calif.) drove in the first run with a single through the left side. Bauer then grounded into a double play that plated another and Dane Goodman (Ross, Calif.) scored the next two with a two-run shot. This moved the deficit to five giving WC some hope. After two scoreless innings Whittier would find an opening in their final at bats.
Daniel Tuerffs (Yorba Linda, Calif.) started off the inning with a single to left field and then advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Brandon Mulrooney (Placentia, Calif.) put runners on the corners with a single to right but was followed by back to back strikeouts from Jarryd Samsing (Buckeye, AZ) and Nick Krska (Happy Valley, OR). So with two outs, Whittier was forced into a corner but they were able to capitalize on a pair of wild pitches that brought in two. But the rally would stall as Bauer would go down swinging allowing Caltech to escape with the road win.
Andrew Chavez (West Covina, Calif.) was charged with the loss going 3.0 Innings giving up five runs on six hits. He drops to 0-2. Offensively, Whittier collected eight hits. Goodman was 2-for-2 scoring once and driving in a couple. Tuerffs was 1-for-2 with a run scored and Mulrooney was 1-for-4 with a run.
Whittier returns to the diamond to complete the series today, Saturday, April 20 when they travel for a doubleheader with Caltech. Game times set for 11:00am and 2:00pm.
