CLAREMONT, Calif. (April 1, 2023)- The Poets took the road to take on CMS in hopes of getting revenge from the day before. They men came to play and took the first game from the Stags 11-9, before losing the second one 13-10. 

Game 1: 

The first game saw Maximus Berber take the mound for the Poets. The big man put in a solid 5 innings of work only giving up 5 hits and 1 earned run, while striking out 3.  CMS took an early lead in this game scoring a run in the first inning. 

Whittier answered back though in the top of the third. After two quick outs Dane Goodman wore a pitch off his foot to put a runner on base for Teige Barrett. Barrett came up and crushed a ball over the center field wall that left the park in a blink of an eye. 

With a 2-1 lead, Lew Rice once again struck in the fifth. Goodman was hit by a pitch for the third time this game and Barrett was walked. Rice then came to the plate with 2 outs; he got a pitch right in his comfort zone and smacked a towering shot over the right field fence. 

An untimely error cost the Poet's lead to get smaller in the bottom half of the fifth inning. CMS was able to score 3 unearned runs that led to Berber's exit, with Whittier only holding a 5-4 lead. The Stags continued to score in the sixth inning, tagging Whittier for 3 more runs, this gave them a 7-5 lead. 

The Poets had their chances to score in the top of the eighth, with Delvan Gomez, James Stirton, and Nathan Sherman drawing 3 straight walks to start. Barrett and Rice then came up huge for Whittier. Barrett was able to run out a ground ball that would have been an inning ending double play, but instead a run was able to come across. The 2-out rally then began for Whittier, Rice came up and laced a ball to left field allowing the tying run to score. Berber stepped up next and smacked a double to right center that brought home 2 more. The final run for the Poets came when Matt Woods blooped a ball over the second baseman's head that brought Berber around. Whittier had a 10-7 lead going to the bottom of the eighth. 

The men were not done there as they took a bigger lead in the ninth inning. Stirton singled his way on, then stole his fifth bag of the year to get to second. Goodman brought him home with a single to left, which gave Whittier an 11-7 lead going to the bottom of the ninth. Tanner Salazar was able to slam the door on the Stags as the Poets won 11-9.

Goodman had an incredible game at the plate reaching 5 times on his birthday. The birthday boy was hit 3 times in the foot, walked, and had a RBI single. Barrett ended the day with a double, a home run, 3 runs, 3 RBIs, and 2 walks. Rice also had an amazing day coming away with a single, double, home run, 2 runs, 4 RBIs, and a walk. Matthew Helguerra and  Tanner Salazar, who have been the Poets workhorses all year, came in to get the final 11 outs of the game. Helguera secured the win, while Salazar got the save. 

Game 2: 

Goodman and Rice continued to dominate at the plate when the second game began. Sherman led the game off with a walk then Goodman demolished a ball over the center field wall. Rice then stepped up and hit his second homer of the day to put Whittier up 3-0. 

The Poets rallied for a few more in the second. Jay Schulze led the inning off with a single, then Stirton moved him to second with a SAC bunt. Dane Goodman then made his way to the plate again; the fifth-year man got his pitch and once again slammed it over the fence. He had put the Poets up 5-0. 

After falling in a hole early, CMS staged their comeback scoring one in the second, one in the third, 3 in the fourth, and 1 in the fifth to take a 6-5 lead over Whittier.

As the sixth began, Stirton singled and was moved to second by a Sherman SAC bunt. This brought #26 to the plate. Goodman had been having a monster day, but after being hit 3 times in the foot the first game was not moving as fast. The star center fielder was able to give the Poets one last at bat and singled home Stirton. Goodman left it all out on the field today and came out in the sixth with 5 RBIs this game. Enzo Comes came in to run for Goodman, and after moving to second on a Rice walk he showed off his speed. Berber hit a dribbler down the third base line and the Stags were not able to make the play, but Comes never stopped running and was able to score on the play. Whittier retook the lead 7-6 going to the bottom of the sixth. 

The lead change lasted about 2 more innings for the Poets, before CMS was able to get going again. Giving up 4 free passes in the bottom of the seventh, led to the Stags scoring 5 runs and taking an 11-7 lead. 

Barrett was able to inch the Poets closer hitting his second homer of the day in the eighth, but CMS once again answered back. They were able to carry a few hits to 2 more runs and now held a 13-9 lead. Whittier was able to one back in the ninth with a Sherman RBI single, however this is where the scoring would end. The Poets would drop this game 13-10. 

Whittier's bats were alive today as they were able to come away with 21 hits and 21 runs scored today. Goodman came to the plate 9 times today and was able to reach base 7 of those. The birthday boy finished the day with 4 hits, 4 runs scored, 6 RBIs, 2 home runs, a walk, and 3 hit by pitches. Barrett swung the bat well in both games, walking away with 4 hits, 4 runs, 5 RBIs, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 3 walks. The final standout for the Poets was Rice, who had 4 hits, 3 runs, 5 RBIs, 2 walks, a double, and 2 home runs. 

The Poets have about a week off before traveling to Redlands next Friday. They will take on the Bulldogs at 3:00, with the hopes of keeping their bats hot. 

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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