LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 15, 2023)- After a tough loss yesterday, the Poets traveled to LA to take on the Tigers in the second half of the series. In the first game of the doubleheader, the Poets dominated to a 7-0 victory. After falling behind big early in the second game of the day Whittier came back to win 14-9.

Game 1: 

In the first game of the day the reigning SCIAC Pitcher of the Week, Maximus Berber, took the mound for the Poets. He continued to dominate going seven scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts, securing the win. 

Dane Goodman started this game right where he left off last game with an RBI. This time it came in the form of a solo home run over the left-center wall, giving the Poets a 1-0 lead in the first. 

It was not until the sixth inning another run was scored. Once again Goodman stepped to the plate and launched a ball over the fence. The score was 2-0 with the only runs in the game coming from Goodman's bat. 

The eighth inning was when the Poets really opened the game up. Lew Rice and Ian Watanabe led the inning off with singles, then Matt Woods walked. Jay Schulze then drew a walk from himself, allowing the Poets to score their third run. James Stirton then singled to the shortstop, who then made a throwing error, bringing home 2 more runs. The score was now 5-0. 

The final inning began with Goodman reaching base again. Teige Barrett then came to the plate and hit a missile over the wall to bring the Poets lead to 7. 

This is how the game would end; a 7-0 Whittier victory. Jaycob Agredano came into to slam the door on OXY, pitching 2 innings of no-hit ball and 2 strikeouts. 

Game 2:

Teige Barrett got the call to be the starter in game 3 of this series. After giving up 4 walks, with a strikeout, the junior came out of the game only lasting ⅔ of the inning. Marcos Armenta Jr. then came into the game and gave up 3 straight singles allowing 4 more OXY runs to score. The Tigers were leading 5-0 in the first inning. 

The Tigers held this 5 run lead until the third. Goodman, who was already having a great day, drew a walk bringing Barrett to the plate. Staying in the game as the DH after coming off the pitching mound, Barrett got his chance to get some runs back and took full advantage. He drove a ball over the left field wall to bring the Poets to within 3 runs of Occidental. 

In the fourth, Matt Woods led the inning off with a single. Jackson Brummett was then able to bring him home with a single of his own. 

Whittier scored another 3 runs in the fifth inning. Woods brought another run home with a SAC fly. Later in the inning Lew Rice and Teige Barrett both scored on a throwing error by the catcher. The Poets had taken a 6-5 lead in this game. However, the Tigers were able to answer back with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Going to the sixth inning, this was a new game being tied at 6. 

The bats came to life in the sixth inning for Whittier. Delvan Gomez led the inning off by reaching on an error and the flood gates opened from there, with  Stirton then being  hit by a pitch. Jay Schulze came to the plate next and brought Gomez home with a single. Goodman walked to the plate once again and did what he has done all year and brought another run home with a hit. The big bat of Barrett stepped up next; he got his pitch once again and launched one over the right field fence. Later in the inning Jesse Mendoza doubled to bring another run home and Gomez added 2 RBIs with a single. 8 runs were scored by the Poets this inning, breaking this game open to a 14-6 lead. 

This would prove to be enough for the Poets as they would hold on to secure the victory 14-9. Riley Schicker came into this game and pitched the last 2 ⅓ innings of this game allowing no hits and a strikeout. 

Goodman's and Barrett's bat carried the Poets to 2 solid victories today. The former went 4-7 with 6 runs, 3 RBIs, 2 home runs, and 2 walks. While the latter had 4 hits, 4 runs scored, an amazing 7 RBIs, 3 homers, and 2 walks. 

The Poets will return to action next Friday when they travel to Pasadena. They will be taking on the CalTech Beavers in another SCIAC game starting at 3:00. 

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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