WHITTIER, Calif. (April 11, 2023)- The Poets took on the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen today in a game that would not count towards their conference record. Both teams lost games earlier in the year due to the rain, so they were playing this non-conference bout for more games. Whittier stayed hot after their big weekend against Redlands and topped the Kingsmen 8-2. 

After establishing a role as a late inning flamethrower, Teige Barrett took the ball to open this game for the Poets. The second year man had a great outing, giving the Poets a solid three innings of work. Over those three innings 4 walks created some situations, but Barrett pitched his way out of jams ending only giving up 1 hit and 1 run, with 4 strikeouts. 

This game was a low scoring one for most of the innings, with the first runs coming in the third. The Kingsmen took the early lead taking advantage of 3 walks and a single, to score 1 in the top of the inning. However, Whittier was ready to fight in this game and answered back in the bottom half of the third. Nathan Sherman, Teige Barrett, Maximus Berber, and Cam Gray carried a series of singles to 2 runs. 

Whittier carried this 2-1 lead up until the sixth inning, when Cal Lu scored once again. Some costly errors allowed the Kingsmen to take advantage of the opportunity and scratched one across the plate to tie the game. 

The Poets put on full display they wanted this game. Matt Woods started the inning off with a single, but was cut down at third on Enzo Comes infield single. Then with 1 out the Poets brought Ian Watanabe in to pinch-hit. Watanabe took no time and laced a single to right field, allowing Comes to come around and score. Delvan Gomez then walked and Sherman singled home another run. Up 4-2 Barrett walked to load the bases for Lew Rice. Rice continued to shine in the big moment and crushed a ball over the center field wall, for a grand slam. Rice had broken this game open for Whittier, as they carried a 8-2 lead to the final inning.  

After pitching a scoreless eighth, Matthew Helguera came back out in the ninth and slammed the door on the Kingsmen. This gave the Poets their ninth victory on the year and third in a row. 

A bullpen day for the Poets, seven different pitchers combined allowing only 4 hits, 1 earned run, with 10 strikeouts. Whittier's bats stayed hot this game too as their first 4 hitters contributed 9 of their 14 hits. Sherman, Barrett, and Berber each had 2, while Rice had 3 with a double and grand slam. 5 different Poets had RBIs in this game as well. 

Whittier will be back in action on Friday, as they host OXY. The Poets will remain at home and host the Tigers in game 1 of the series at 3:00. 

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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