WHITTIER, CA. (APR. 19, 2024)- The Whittier College Poets baseball team began their 3-game series against the CalTech Beavers Friday afternoon. After the score remained close for the majority of the game, the Poets' bats took off in the later innings to earn them the 11-1 victory in 8 innings. 

Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif., Ramona HS) took the ball for the Poets and once again dazzled. The junior pitched 7 innings only giving up 1 run and striking out 8. He earned his 5 victory of the season with this performance and set the Poets up to take the series from the Beavers tomorrow. 

In the first inning of the game Whittier came out ready to play. Nathan Sherman (Ventura, Calif., Buena HS) and Teige Barrett (San Diego, Calif., Mira Mesa HS) both reached base and brought Lew Rice (Walkerton, Va., IMG Academy) to the plate with 2 runners on. Rice hit a knock through the right side and brought the first run of the game in to score. Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington HS) then doubled off the right field wall to bring Barrett into score. Later in the inning, James Stirton (Cerritos, Calif., Valley Christian HS) grounded out to third base and brought the third run of the game in for the Poets. At the end of the first Whittier had a 3-0 lead. The Poets scored again in the third inning to extend their lead to 4-0.

CalTech scored their sole run of the game in the top of the sixth inning, but Whittier answered in a big way in the bottom of the 7th. Barrett got the party started by walking and Rice followed that up by being hit by a pitch. Plaskett then stepped to the plate and singled to right center to bring Barrett home. An error later in the innings created on opportunity for 2 more Poets to score, Whittier now had a 7-1 lead. 

Whittier then ended the game in the eighth inning, by scoring 4 more runs. Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach HS) and Sherman wore pitches and got on base for Barrett. He then doubled down the left field line and brought the 2 runners in. After Rice was hit by a pitch, Plaskett doubled again and scored 2 more runs to mercy the Beavers 11-1. 

Plaskett led the team today on the offensive end coming away with 4 hits, 4 RBIs, a run scored, and 2 doubles. Barrett, Rice and Stirton also all contributed a hit and RBI each. Berber handed the ball off to Matthew Helguera (Montebello, Calif., Schurr HS) after the seventh innings, and the senior shut down the CalTech batter going a perfect inning with 2 strikeouts. 

The Poets will now look to take the series from the Beavers tomorrow, as they travel to Pasadena for 2 more games. This double-header is slated to begin at 11:00 in the morning.