LA VERNE, CA. (March 1, 2025)- The Poets traveled to La Verne today to take on the Leopards in games 2 and 3 of the series. The University of La Verne got off to a good start in the first game and carried it to 7-1 victory. In the third game the Poets tied a season high in with 17 hits, and put up a season best with 15 runs but unfortunately would lose this one by a final score of 17-15.
Game 1:
Going up against a top-ranked offense in the nation,
Diego Castillo (Fontana, Calif., San Bernardino Valley) toed the rubber for the Poets. The junior pitched well for the Purple and Gold, going 6 innings giving up 4 earned runs and striking out 3. When he came out of the game after the seventh inning, the score was 5-1.
The Poets lone run came in the top of the sixth inning, when they took advantage of a few Leopard mistakes. However, they could not get much going throughout this game.
Andrew Griffin (Colton, Calif., San Bernardino Valley) was a big bright spot in the Whittier lineup, as the third baseman finished the game with 3 of the Poet's 6 total hits.
Game 2:
The final game of the series was an offensive explosion, as the 2 teams combined for 32 runs on 40 hits.
In the first inning Whittier got off to a fast start, scoring 3 runs.
Collin O'Driscoll (Belmont, Calif., College of San Mateo) and
Matthew Mecate (Highland, Calif., CSU Dominguez Hills) started things off with a walk and a single, before
Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington) got the Poets on the board with a 2 RBI single of his own. With 2-outs
Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif., Ramona) doubled down the left field line to bring Plaskett around and give the Poets a 3-0 lead.
Extending their lead in the second inning, Whittier added on 4 more runs.
Sevon Battle (Las Vegas, Nev., Baker College) got the rally going with 2-outs, singling up the middle. O'Driscoll and Mecate followed up Battle's hit with singles of their own, to bring Sevon around to score. Plaskett then stepped to the plate with 2 runners on and launched a bomb over the left field fence. This 3-run jack would put the Poets up 7-0.
La Verne was not just going to go away though and slowly worked their way back in. The Leos scored 1 in the bottom of the second and 2 in the fourth to make the score 7-3 headed to the sixth inning.
Then in the top of the sixth Whittier continued to swing the bats well. After Battle doubled to start things, O'Driscoll, Plaskett, Berber, and
Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif., Lodi) all singled to plate 4 more runs for the Poets. The Purple and Gold had an 11-3 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Poets had some major lapses and the Leos took full advantage. Scoring 9 runs, La Verne now held a 12-11 lead. However, the Whittier bats were ready to fight back.
Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) started the seventh off by getting hit by a pitch, and then
Nathan Sherman (Ventura, Calif., Buena) moved him over to second with a SAC bunt. Battle followed that up with a walk of his own. O'Driscoll stepped up next and laced a single past the third basemen and after a La Verne error the pinch-runner
Joseph Leyva (Downey, Calif., La Harbor College) was able to tie the game. Mecate singled then and moved over to third on a Plaskett double. Later in the inning, Mecate would score on a wild pitch and Whittier would now hold a 15-12 lead.
After holding them at bay in the bottom of the seventh, the strong Leo offense would come out and score 5 runs in the bottom of the 8th. Now trailing 17-15, the Poet bats finally ran out of steam in the final inning, as they were not able to close the gap and the final would remain 17-15 La Verne.
The Poet lineup was dominating in this game. Battle, O'Driscoll, Mecate, Plaskett, Watanabe, and Berber all had multiple hits in this game. Plaskett would pace the group with 4 hits, including a double and homer, to go along with his 7 RBIs.
Lukas Long (Stockton, Calif., Bear Creek) was fantastic for the Poets in this series. The sophomore would pinch in all three games; totalling 3.1 hitless and scoreless innings, while striking out 5.
Whittier will not have much time to think about this tough day, as they play another match again tomorrow. Their Sunday game will be up against Whitman College starting at 12:00. The Poets will look to continue to swing the bat well in front of their home crowd at Whitter tomorrow, so make sure you come out and support at Hugh B. Mendez Stadium.
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