Los Angeles, CA. (April 25, 2025)- The Whittier College baseball team delivered a commanding performance on Friday afternoon, defeating Occidental College 14–4 at Anderson Field. The Poets' offense was relentless, tallying 14 runs on 14 hits and scoring in all but one inning.
Maximus Berber (Riverside, Calif., Ramona) earned the win on the mound, helping the Poets mercy the Tigers in 8 innings.
Whittier set the tone early in the first inning.
Sevon Battle (Las Vegas, Nev., Baker College) reached base with a single, setting the stage for
Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington), who launched a two-run homer down the right-field line, giving the Poets an early 2–0 lead. Occidental responded in the bottom half, scoring three runs to take a 3–2 advantage.
In the second inning, the Poets tied the game at 3–3.
Spencer Jenkins (Bakersfield, Calif., Menlo College) singled and after
Parker Eastwood Lilles (Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Saint Georges School) and
Andrew Griffin (Colton, Calif., San Bernardino Valley) reached, the bases were loaded for
Coehn Nakasone (Aiea, Hawaii, Mid-Pacific). He delivered an RBI single to shortstop, bringing Jenkins home.
The third inning saw Whittier regain the lead. Plaskett continued his offensive tear with a solo home run to center field, his second of the game. Later in the inning,
Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Jenkins to score and extending the lead to 5–3.
In the fourth, Battle singled and later scored on a wild pitch, pushing the Poets' lead to 6–3.
The sixth inning featured a three-run outburst. Nakasone and
Rayden Miguel (Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Moanalua) both reached to put runners on first and second.
Matthew Mecate (Highland, Calif., CSU Dominguez Hills) then stepped to the plate and laced an RBI single to left center field. Then Plaskett reached base on a fielder's choice that sent Miguel to third.
Alex Jasso (South Gate, Calif., Maywood Center for Enriched Studies) followed with a SAC fly, bringing in another run. Plaskett then sacrificed himself in a rundown between first and second, allowing Mecate to score from home. Whittier now held a 9-3 lead.
In the seventh, Brummett reached with a walk and moved to third on a Eastwood Lilles single to right field. After an error by the Tigers, the Poets had a 10-3 lead.
The eighth inning saw the Poets add three more runs to extend their lead to 10. Mecate walked and stole second to start the inning; before Plaskett walked and put runners at first and second. Jasso then came up with a big RBI single to left field. Jenkins then got in on the action and singled to third base to load the bases.
Jay Schulze (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) then stepped up and smacked a 2-RBI double to left field. With runners on second and third, Brummett knocked a SAC fly to center field to bring in another run and extend the Poets' lead to 10. Whittier was now on top 14-4.
Carter Calkin (Kirkland, Wash., Bellevue Christian School), who replaced Berber after 6.1 innings, finished off the Tiger hitters and Whittier earned the 8-inning mercy. This was a combination of phenomenal hitting and great pitching by the Poets today. Whittier will look to stay in the win column when they return home for a doubleheader against Occidental College on Saturday, April 26, at Hugh B. Mendez Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM.
Key Performances:
Maximus Berber: 6.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Ks, WIN
Carter Calkin: 1.2 IP, 1 HA, 0 ER, 1 K
Joe Plaskett: 2-for-4, 3 RBI, 3 R, BB, 2 HR
Matthew Mecate: 2 H, 2 R, RBI, BB, 2 SB
Spencer Jenkins: 3-for-5, R
Parker Eastwood Lilles: 3-for-5
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