Box Score WHITTIER, CA. (MAR. 8, 2026)- Whittier College baseball delivered a historic offensive performance Sunday afternoon at Mendez Stadium, erupting for 26 hits and 30 runs in a wild 30–13 victory over Keene State.
The game opened with early fireworks as Keene State struck for six runs in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a grand slam. The Poets answered immediately with an explosive response in the bottom half.
Coehn Nakasone (Aiea, Hawaii, Mid-Pacific Institute) sparked the rally by reaching base before
Matthew Mecate (Highland, Calif., CSU Dominguez Hills) lined an RBI single to get Whittier on the board.
Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington) followed with an RBI double, and
Aidan Cardoza (Riverside, Calif., San Bernardino Valley College) added an RBI single as the Poets began chipping away at the deficit. Moments later,
Rayden Miguel (Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Moanalua) ripped a two-run double to tie the game before Mecate delivered a sacrifice fly to give Whittier the lead.
Alex Jasso (South Gate, Calif., MACES) capped the rally with a two-run double as the Poets sent 15 batters to the plate and stormed ahead with a 10-run inning.
Keene State answered with two runs in the second, but Whittier quickly extended its advantage with another big inning.
Collin O'Driscoll (Belmont, Calif., College of San Mateo) opened the frame with a double and later launched a two-run home run to center field. Plaskett added a two-run double earlier in the inning, while Cardoza contributed a sacrifice fly, and
Parker Eastwood-Lilles (Vancouver BC, Canada, St. George's Academy) drove in a run with a single as the Poets plated eight runs to push the lead to 18–8.
The Poets continued to pile on throughout the afternoon.
Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) drove in a run with an RBI single in the fourth inning, and O'Driscoll struck again in the sixth with his second two-run homer of the game. Whittier added four more runs in the seventh inning when Jasso blasted a two-run home run and Plaskett followed with a solo shot.
Whittier capped the scoring in the eighth with a five-run frame.
Joseph Azevedo (Turlock, Calif., Merced College) delivered an RBI single before
Warren Canciller (Corona, Calif., Santiago) crushed a three-run home run to left-center to extend the Poets' advantage to 29–13.
Christian Kobayashi (Chicago, Ill., Von Steuben) also recorded a milestone in the inning, collecting the first hit of his collegiate career with a single to left field.
The offensive outburst was led by O'Driscoll, who finished a perfect 5-for-5 with two home runs and four RBI. Plaskett added three hits and four RBI, while Jasso drove in five runs on the afternoon. Miguel and Brummett each recorded three hits as Whittier totaled 26 hits as a team. Mecate scored three times and helped set the tone early as the Poets answered every Keene State push with another big inning of their own.
On the mound,
Troy Simmonds (Costa Mesa, Calif., Costa Mesa) helped stabilize the game after the early scoring.
Owen Moore (Austin, Texas, St. Michael's Catholic Academy) closed things out with an impressive five-inning win, allowing just one run while striking out seven. After Keene State scored 13 runs through the first six innings, Moore held the Owls scoreless the rest of the way and helped the Poets finish off the highest-scoring game of the season.
The Poets will look to carry their offensive momentum into another non-conference match-up on Tuesday against Curry College. This game will have a first pitch at 2:00 PM.
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