WHITTIER, CA. (March 4, 2025)- The Whittier College Poets baseball team got back in the win column Tuesday afternoon, as they took on the Westcliff Warriors. The Poets were down early in this game, but the bats came alive at the end and they came away with a 6-5 victory.
The Poets started this game off getting a run in the bottom of the first inning. With 2-outs in the inning,
Matthew Mecate (Highland, Calif., CSU Dominguez Hills) doubled and advanced to third on a
Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington) single.
Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif., Lodi) stepped to the plate next and was able to get one to fall in shallow left field, allowing Mecate to come around and score. Whittier had a 1-0 lead headed to the second.
In the top of the second, the Warriors were able to strike back. They managed 4 hits and 3 runs to take a 3-1 lead over the the Poets. The Purple and Gold got one back in the bottom of the second though.
Andrew Griffin (Colton, Calif., San Bernardino Valley) started the inning off with a single and was moved over to second on a perfectly placed
Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) SAC bunt. After
Jay Schulze (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) recorded a single of his own to move Griffin to third base;
Sevon Battle (Las Vegas, Nev., Baker College) hit a SAC fly to get the Poets their second run.
Westcliff was then able to extend their lead in the top of the fifth inning by scoring 2 more runs. Whittier was now trailing 5-2.
Then in the bottom of the seventh, the Poets got their opportunity and struck back. Mecate once again got things started with a single to center field. Plaskett followed that up with a walk and then
Spencer Jenkins (Bakersfield, Calif., Menlo College) singled to left to load the bases. With the bases loaded
Alex Jasso (South Gate, Calif., Maywood Center for Enriched Studies) and Griffin drew back-to-back walks to bring the Poets to within 1 run. Whittier then brought in some reinforcements off the bench. The speedy
Joseph Leyva (Downey, Calif., La Harbor College) pinch-ran for Jenkins at third base and
Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif., Ramona) came in to pinch-hit. Berber did not drive the ball, but managed to get it deep enough in the air to allow Leyva to use his speed to come across the plate and tie the game.
Plaskett then was able to be the hero in the bottom of the eighth. With the score tied and 2-outs, Plaskett hit a monster homer over the right field fence to give the Poets a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the ninth Coach Rizzo turned the ball over to
Aaron Cazares (Eastvale, Calif., Norco). Cazares slammed the door on the Warrior's bats earning his first save of the season, and giving Whittier the 6-5 victory .
This was not the prettiest of games for the Poets, but in the end of the game they were able to come through. Schulze, Mecate, and Plaskett each totalled 3 hits for the Poets, while Griffin added in 2 of his own. The team was able to spread the wealth as well, as 6 different batters had RBIs.
The pitching staff was great in this game as well.
Marcos Armenta (Bellflower, Calif., Gahr) started the game and went 4 innings, surrendering only 3 runs while striking out 2.
Luke Estrada (Corona, Calif., Santiago),
Carlos Rodarte (Ontario, Calif., Chaffey), and Cazares were then able to pitch 5 scoreless innings. The final 3 pitchers for Whittier only allowed 2 hits the final 5 innings of play.
This was a great team win for the Poets and they will look to continue the momentum this weekend. They have Friday and Saturday off, but will host Dickinson College on Sunday at 1:00 PM.
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