REDLANDS, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2026)- After dropping their season opener to the Bulldogs, the Poets traveled to Redlands on Saturday for games 2 and 3. While the Peuple and Gold fought hard in these games they ultimately dropped the first one by a final score of 0-2 and the second by a final of 5-9.
GAME 1:
Whittier College baseball went punch for punch with Redlands in a scoreless battle through seven innings, but a pair of unearned runs in the eighth led to a 2–0 setback on Saturday morning at The Yard.
The Poets were anchored by a dominant start from
Andrew Berdelis (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach), who fired seven shutout innings while surrendering just three hits and one walk. Berdelis struck out four and consistently worked out of trouble, keeping Redlands off the board deep into the game.
Whittier created scoring chances throughout the contest, including runners on second and third in the sixth inning and another threat in the seventh after a pinch-hit double from
Eric Logsdon (Apple Valley, Calif., Victor Valley College), but the Poets were unable to break through.
Redlands capitalized on defensive miscues in the eighth inning to score two unearned runs, providing the game's only offense.
The Poets looked to rally in the ninth when
Parker Eastwood-Lilles (Vancouver BC, Canada, St. George's Academy) doubled to left-center, but the comeback attempt came up just short. Eastwood and
Matthew Mecate (Highland, Calif., CSU Dominguez Hills) each recorded 2 hits to lead Whittier's offense.
Whittier out-hit Redlands, 6–4, and will look to turn the page as game 3 was next.
GAME 2:
The Poets opened the scoring in the third inning by manufacturing a run.
Warren Canciller (Corona, Calif., Santiago) singled to start the frame and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from
Jay Schulze (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach). After Schulze reached on an error,
Joseph Conti (Tracy, Calif., Victor Valley) moved the runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt of his own. Walking Mecate to load the bases, a Redland's wild pitch allowed Canciller to cross the plate for a 1–0 lead.
Whittier added to its advantage in the fifth inning with a well-executed rally. Mecate singled again to start the inning and advanced into scoring position before
Collin O'Driscoll (Belmont, Calif., College of San Mateo) came through with a pinch-hit RBI single to right field, extending the Poets' lead to 2–0.
After Redlands answered with 4 runs in the bottom of the fifth, Whittier responded with its biggest offensive inning in the sixth. Sending nine batters to the plate and reclaiming the lead with three runs.
Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) worked a lead off walk and eventually scored on another wild pitch, as Whittier continued to pressure the Bulldogs' pitching staff.
Coehn Nakasone (Aiea, Hawaii, Mid-Pacific Institute) reached base on a walk, and Mecate drew a walk for himself to load the bases, setting the stage for the Poets' production. Another wild pitch allowed Brummett to come across the plate and bring the game to 4-3. After
Twaine Meadows (Watts, Calif., Narbonne) walked to reload the bases, Eastwood-Lilles drove in a run after being hit by a pitch. O'Driscoll followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to plate Mecate, giving Whittier a 5–4 lead and completing the comeback.
However, the Bulldogs would answer back in the bottom of the seventh with 5 runs of their own. This is how the game would end with Redlands holding the 9-5 advantage.
Mecate led the Poets offensively, finishing 2-for-2 with 2 runs scored and 2 walks, while O'Driscoll drove in 2 of Whittier's 5 runs. Logsdon added 2 hits, and Whittier drew 7 walks while consistently applying pressure on the base paths.
On the mound, Freshman
Keaton (KJ) Kovaly (Phoenix, Ariz., Willow Canyon) toed the rubber. Kovaly used his pitching deception to keep the Bulldog hitters off balance and hold them scoreless for 4 innings.
The Poets will look to build on the offensive execution, as they will have one more chance to get into the win column this weekend. On Sunday, they play host to Centenary College with a first pitch expected at 11:00 at Hugh B. Mendez Stadium.
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