Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

FULLERTON, Calif. (Mar. 1, 2022) – The Whittier College baseball team once again got a standout performance at the dish when they took on Hope International University in a game made up from February.

This time, it would freshman shortstop Nate Sherman (Ventura, Calif. / Buena) who continued his hot-hitting ways. Sherman hit out of the lead-off position for the first time this season and responded with a 3-for-5 night to go with a pair of RBI's. He got on base with the opening at-bat of the game, singling into right field, though it would be fellow middle infielder Teige Barrett (San Diego, Calif. / Mira Mesa) who would get the Poets on the board, making a successful trip around the bases after an error from the opposing shortstop. Sherman would be heard from again in the ninth inning when he doubled into center field, scoring senior outfielder Will Chamberlain (San Diego, Calif. / Mater Dei) and junior middle infielder Wilson Okazaki (San Diego, Calif. / Point Loma). Sherman was not the only Poet to smoke a double, as freshman Collin Drummond (Lodi, Calif. / Tokay), who started at catcher for the first time in his Whittier career, delivered a good shot into right-center in the second inning.

In between the bookends of Sherman-led offense, the Poets' offense went through a drought, but led to opportunities for several relief pitchers to have moments in what was a bullpen game for the Purple & Gold. Senior Andrew Chavez (West Covina, Calif. / South Hills) opened the game with a pair of no-hit innings, and freshman Elijah Paner (Los Angeles, Calif. / Eagle Rock) followed later in the game, throwing a pair of unblemished innings while striking out three. 

Head Coach Mike Rizzo and the Poets, still looking for their first win of the season, will have another opportunity on Wednesday afternoon when they host Virginia's Bridgewater College at 2:30 p.m.

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