REDLANDS, CA. (February 7, 2025)- The Whittier College baseball team kick-started their 2025 season with a huge conference win over the University of Redlands Bulldogs. The offense came out swinging, knocking 17 hits on their way to an 11-9 victory.
Whittier was able to strike first in this game, with
Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington) coming up with a huge opposite field solo home run in the top of the second. The Poets had their ace
Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif., Ramona) on the mound in this game and the senior kept the Poets 1-0 lead through the fourth inning.
Then in the top of the fifth Whittier was able to extend their lead.
Collin O'Driscoll (Belmont, Calif., College of San Mateo) started things off with a single through the left side and was followed by a
Matthew Mecate (Highland, Calif., CSU Dominguez Hills) walk. Then Plaskett came up and roped a single up the middle to load the bases.
Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif., Lodi) stepped up next and smacked a ball into center field, bring across 2 more runs. The Poets now had a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs answered back though scoring 8 runs on 6 hits in the bottom of the fifth inning. Whittier now was facing their first up-hill battle of the season, a 8-3 deficit.
Whittier's bats did not stay quiet for long, in the top of the seventh inning they rallied for 4 more runs.
Sevon Battle (Las Vegas, Nev., Baker College) began the inning with a single and advanced to second on an error. Then O'Driscoll stayed hot and drove him in with a single to center field, while Mecate followed that with a single of his own. Plaskett stepped back into the box and drove the ball over the right field wall again, for his second homers of the day. This time he brought 3 runs across with it and the Poets were now only trailing 8-7.
As the ninth inning rolled around Whittier was still trailing 8-7, but were looking for one final push. Once again Plaskett was able to reach base to start the inning. This time on an error, but this proved to be the boost the Poets needed. Watanabe followed it up with a double and then
Andrew Griffin (Colton, Calif., San Bernardino Valley) brought in the tying run with a single of his own. In a tie ballgame with runners on first and third,
Gama Martinez (Highland, Calif., Arrowhead Christian) stepped to the plate. The Freshman laced a ball past the diving third basemen into left field to secure his first collegiate hit, but also gave the Poets a 9-8 advantage. Battle added some insurance runs later in the inning with a huge double of his own to extend Whittier lead to 11-8 going into the bottom of the ninth.
In the last half inning of the game Coach Rizzo handed the ball to
Owen Moore (Austin, Texas, St Michael's Catholic Academy), who was able to keep the Bulldog's bats at bay. Moore secured his first save of the season, while also locking down Whittier's first victory of the year.
Defeating Redlands by a final score of 11-9 showed great promise for the season to come for Whittier. Battle, O'Driscoll, Watanabe, Plaskett, and Griffin all had multiple his for the Poets in this game. Plaskett led the way with 4 hits, 4 RBIs, 2 runs, and 2 home runs; as O'Driscoll collected 3 hits, 2 runs, and an RBI of his own. On the other side of the field the Whittier pitchers did well. Berber held the fort down for the first 4 innings, until Redlands finally broke it open. But in the back half of the game a combination of
Aaron Cazares (Eastvale, Calif., Norco),
Diego Lopez (San Jose, Calif., West Valley College),
Caleb Dooley (Ventura, Calif., Knox College), and Moore combined for 4 ? innings pitched. The group allowed only 1 unearned run, as they struck out 4.
Head Coach
Mike Rizzo and the Poets will look to continue to swing it tomorrow, as they continue their series against the Bulldogs. Whittier will play 2 more games against Redlands with the first game of the double-header beginning at 11:00 A.M. tomorrow (February 8th, 2025).
This is the home-opener for Whittier this year, so make sure you come out and show support for your Poets!
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