Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 5, 2022) – The Whittier College baseball team returned to action at Hugh B. Mendez Stadium for the first time in nearly two years when they hosted Whitworth University on Friday afternoon.

Upon taking the field, the Poets immediately showed they could be a fast-starting team with three of their five runs coming between the first two innings. Sophomore designated hitter Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif. / Lodi) got his team's season off on the right foot when he plated a pair of runs in the first inning, bringing freshman first baseman Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif. / Ramona) and third baseman Teige Barrett (San Diego, Calif. / Mira Mesa) home in a bases-loaded situation. The Poets would go on to take a 3-1 lead in the second inning when some timely baserunning from outfielders Dane Goodman (Ross, Calif. / Redwood) and James Stirton (Cerritos, Calif. / Valley Christian) resulted in the Poets' third run of the game and season. Stirton initially stole second before advancing to third base on a wild pitch before Goodman walked and stole second himself. Upon doing so, the attention to the keystone opened the door for right fielder Stirton to come home, scoring his first run of the season.

Junior righty Arturo Escandon (Hacienda Heights, Calif. / Bishop Amat) got the starting nod on opening day, keeping his team in the game early before giving way to three relief pitchers before the game was called due to darkness midway through the top of the eighth inning. Whittier would go on to scratch two more runs across the plate in the fourth and fifth innings with Goodman knocking home Stirton in the fouth and senior catcher Mike Hernandez (Stockton, Calif. / Edison) capitalizing on an error from the pitcher after stealing third to give the Poets their fifth and final tally.

Head Coach Mike Rizzo and the Poets will return tomorrow to play their first doubleheader of the season when they host the University of Puget Sound beginning at 10:30 a.m.

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