PASADENA, CA (April 11, 2025) – The Whittier College Poets traveled to Pasadena on Friday afternoon to take on the Caltech Beavers in a SCIAC series opener. The Purple and Gold came out swinging, racking up 17 hits en route to an 11-6 victory.
Whittier struck early with two runs in the first inning. Sevon Battle (Las Vegas, Nev., Baker College) singled through the left side and advanced to third on a hit by Matthew Mecate (Highland, Calif., CSU Dominguez Hills). Although Mecate was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double, Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington) came through with an RBI single to bring in Battle. Plaskett later advanced on a wild pitch and was driven in by Ian Watanabe (Lodi, Calif., Lodi) to make it 2-0.
Caltech responded quickly, scoring one run in each of the first three innings to take a 3-2 lead. But with Andrew Berdelis (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) on the mound and the Poets' offense heating up, Whittier was far from done.
In the top of the fourth, the Poets regained control. Collin O'Driscoll (Belmont, Calif., College of San Mateo), Coehn Nakasone (Aiea, Hawaii, Mid-Pacific), and Battle hit three consecutive singles to load the bases. Mecate then delivered a clutch bases-clearing hit to the fence. Plaskett followed with a single to bring in Mecate, giving Whittier a 6-3 lead.
Caltech added a run in the fifth, but Whittier answered in the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, Nakasone singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Battle. Mecate and Plaskett followed with singles, the latter scoring Nakasone. With runners on the corners, Watanabe crushed a three-run homer over the right-field fence to stretch the lead.
In the ninth, Nakasone, O'Driscoll, and Battle once again loaded the bases. Mecate capped off his stellar day with a sacrifice fly to left field, adding another insurance run.
Leading 11-4 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Coach Rizzo stuck with freshman Berdelis on the mound. Though Caltech plated two runs, Berdelis stayed composed and struck out the final batter with a runner on second, sealing the 11-6 win for the Poets.
Key Performances:
Coehn Nakasone: 3-for-4, 2 R, BB, HBP
Sevon Battle: 3-for-5, 2 R, SAC
Matthew Mecate: 4-for-5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B, SF
Joe Plaskett: 3-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
Ian Watanabe: 2-for-6, R, 4 RBI, HR
Andrew Berdelis: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 5 Ks, (WIN)
This was another great team victory for the Poets, with Berdelis earning his first collegiate victory on the mound for the Purple and Gold. Whittier will look to continue this great play in their double-header against Caltech at home. The first game will begin at 11:00 at Hugh B. Mendez Stadium.
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