Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Baseball team returned to non-conference action Thursday night in the highest scoring affair so far this season falling 18-12 to Kalamazoo College.
Despite collecting 12 runs on 16 hits it still wasn't enough to stop the red hot offense of Kalamazoo who put up 18 runs on 24 hits.
Whittier sees their losing skid move to six as they drop to 2-7, 0-3 SCIAC. The win for the Hornets is their first on the season.
After an early run for the Hornets in the top half of the 1st the Poets responded with a seven-spot in their opening at-bats getting after Kalamazoo starter Parker Sisovsky for six hits. Alex Jelloian (Chatsworth, Calif.) started things off with a single through the left side and Justin Ryan (Riverside, Calif.) followed reaching on an error by the first baseman on an attempted sacrifice bunt. Dane Goodman (Ross, Calif.) then stepped in and loaded the bases with a single to right center and Jacob Bauer (Pleasanton, Calif.) would score the first couple with a single up the middle. After a Bauer stolen base Mike Hernandez (Stockton, Calif.) would single on the infield and that would then lead to a Jarryd Samsing (Buckeye, AZ) single through the left side, a Brandon Lara-Mack (San Gabriel, Calif.) double down the left field line, an RBI groundout from Jacob DeLongchamp (Beaumont, Calif.) and a sacrifice fly from Devon Robinson (Soquel, Calif.).
They tacked on another in the 2nd Inning with Bauer singling through the left side and Hernandez coming up clutch with a triple into the right center field gap. This moved the score to 8-1, but it wouldn't hold as Kalamazoo would put up eight over the next three innings to go on top 9-8. In the bottom half of the 5th though the Poets would bring in the game-tying run. Hernandez led things off with a double to right center and Samsing would reach on an error by the pitcher on an attempted sacrifice bunt. With runners on the corners Samsing attempted a steal but was caught in a pickle. But due to him stretching it out it allowed Hernandez to come in and score.
The very next inning Kalamazoo came up big getting the bases loaded and nobody out. Baldwin then stepped in for the Hornets and crushed a grand slam to left that put them on top 13-9. Whittier got one back in their ensuing at-bats with Ryan singling to right center and advancing to third with a Goodman single down the right field line. But due to a balk both runners would advance a base allowing Ryan to come across.
In the 7th Whittier made it a two-score game. After two quick outs Lara-Mack and DeLongchamp would start the rally off with a pair of singles through the left side. Robinson would then load the bases with a walk and a wild-pitch would bring in one. Each team would bring across one in the 8th that kept it a two-run game. But in the 9th, Kalamazoo secured the win with four runs on four hits, capped off with a deep two run blast from Bean to right center.
Austin Correia (San Diego, Calif.) was charged with the loss going 1.2 Innings giving up the grand slam and a pair of hits. He drops to 0-2 on the season. Hernandez had a day finishing 4-for-5 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Lara-Mack was 2-for-4 scoring twice and driving in two and Goodman was 3-for-5 with two runs. Bauer added a 2-for-5 effort with two runs scored and two RBI's and Samsing added a 2-for-4 game with a run and RBI.
Whittier remains in non-conference play tomorrow, Saturday, February 29 when they host Centenary College (L.A) at 11:00am and 2:00pm.
