WHITTIER, Calif. (April 8, 2023)- The men took on the Redland Bulldogs today in a doubleheader SCIAC matchup. After a rough game on Friday, the Poets turned things around and were able to take 2 from the Bulldogs. Whittier would win the first game 4-0 and the second one 6-4, on their way to their first SCIAC series win. 

Game 1:

Maximus Berber took the mound for the Poets in game 1 and pitched incredible. The second year man was able to throw a complete game shutout, while totalling 7 strikeouts. This game was a pitchers battle throughout the first part of the game, with neither team scoring in the first 5 innings. 

As the sixth inning rolled around, Whittier began to get something going. Nathan Sherman led the inning off with a walk and then Dane Goodman stepped to the plate. An incredible series last week against CMS carried over to this weekend, as Goodman got his pitch and drove it over the left field fence. 

The Poets added some insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth with multiple extra-base hits. James Stirton led the inning off with a double, and Sherman moved him to third with a SAC bunt. Goodman then drove another ball that was caught, but allowed Stirton to come across to score. Later in the inning Berber helped himself out, hitting a SAC fly to allow the Poets' fourth run to score. 

Berber then came back out to the mound and shut down the Redlands hitters, to seal the victory for Whittier, 4-0. Sherman had a good first game going 2-2, with 2 runs, a walk, and a key SAC bunt. Goodman drove in 3 RBIs and scored a run on his big day. The Poets would look to keep this going game 2. 

Game 2:

The second game did not start the best for the Poets. The Bulldogs were able to jump on Whititer's pitching in the first inning and score 4 runs, to take the big early lead. Goodman, though, brought the Poets a little closer, hitting his second homer of the day in the bottom of the first to bring the score to 4-1. 

After giving up 4 runs in the first, the Poets brought Jaycob Agredano into the game in the second inning. The righty pitched great for Whittier, keeping the Redlands bats at bay; as he pitched 4 innings of hittless baseball with 3 strikeouts. 

The Poets continued to inch closer to the Bulldogs lead in the third inning. Stirton once again led the inning off with a double and was brought home by Goodman hitting a double of his own. Lew Rice then got in on the action and singled Goodman around the bases. Whittier was now only trailing 4-3. 

In the seventh inning, Whittier was able to tie the game back up. Abe Bullard led the inning off with drawing a walk, then Joseph Leyva came in to run for him. Matt Woods then hit a shot at the shortstop, that got past him and bounced into shallow left field. Using his speed, Leyva was able to hustle his way to third on Wood's single. Enzo Comes then cam up as a pinch hitter. Comes hit a ball well up the middle, but the defense was pinched and got the runner out at second. However, Comes ran hard down the line and beat the throw to first base, not allowing Redlands to turn a double play, but allowing the tying run to come across the plate. This was a new game, tied 4-4 as the teams headed to the eighth. 

With 2-outs in the eighth inning, 2 of the Poets most feared bats were coming to the plate. Teige Barrett hit a deep double to left-center field, allowing Rice to come to the plate. Rice once again played hero for Whittier, smacking a ball deep over the right field wall that carried all the way into the pool. This moonshot gave the Poets a 6-4 lead. 

In the bottom of the ninth the Bulldogs were able to get their first 2 runners on and this prompted Coach Rizzo to turn to Marcus Owens to stop the bleeding. Redlands was able to lay down a SAC bunt which allowed the runners to move to second and third. The freshman took a deep breath and got the next 2 batters out though, on his way to his first collegiate save. This would give the Poets a 6-4 victory. 

In this game the heart of Whittier's lineup provided most of the offensive damage. Goodman had 2 hits including a double, homerun, 2 runs, and 2 RBI. Rice had 2 hits including the massive game winning homerun. While Barrett had a double and scored a run. Stirton also got in on the action hitting a double and scoring a run for the team. The Poets bullpen led by Agredano and Tanner Salazar, kept the Bulldogs bats quiet throughout the game after they had a big first inning. 

Winning these 2 games was big for the Poets, as it allowed them to capture their first SCIAC series win of the year. Whittier will hope to keep the momentum going, when they take on Cal Lu in a non-conference battle on Tuesday. This game will be played at home for Whittier and will start at 3:00. 

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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