REDLANDS, CA. (APR. 3, 2026)- Whittier College baseball grabbed an early lead and chipped away late, but the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps held on for an 8–5 win Friday afternoon in the opener of the three-game SCIAC series at the neutral site, The Yard in Redlands.
The Stags struck first in the opening inning after a leadoff single and two walks loaded the bases. They brought home the game's first run with an RBI groundout, but Whittier answered right back in the second. Collin O'Driscoll (Belmont, Calif., College of San Mateo) was hit by a pitch, Jackson Brummett (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) followed after being plunked as well, and Rayden Miguel (Ewa Beach, Hawaii, Moanalua) lined an RBI single to tie the game at 1–1.
The Poets moved in front in the third. Coehn Nakasone (Aiea, Hawaii, Mid-Pacific Institute) singled, Matthew Mecate (Highland, Calif., CSU Dominguez Hills) and Joe Plaskett (Fremont, Calif., Washington) walked to load the bases. A passed ball then allowed Nakasone to score, giving Whittier a 2–1 lead. CMS responded in the bottom half with a three-run home run to swing the advantage back to the Stags at 4–2.
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps added two more in the fifth, taking advantage of an error to make it 6–2. The Stags pushed the lead to 7–2 in the sixth on a solo home run.
Whittier mounted its best push in the seventh. Eric Logsdon (Apple Valley, Calif., Victor Valley College) walked and came around to score on an RBI single by Mecate. After Mecate moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, Aidan Cardoza (Riverside, Calif., San Bernardino Valley College) followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 7–4.
CMS got one back in the eighth, but the Poets kept battling in the ninth. Logsdon drew another walk, Thomas Iten (Stockton, Calif., Lincoln) came on to run, and Parker Eastwood-Lilles (Vancouver BC, Canada, St. George's Academy) delivered an RBI single to bring Whittier within three before the rally ended.
Mecate led the Poets with two hits, an RBI, and a walk, while Miguel, Eastwood-Lilles, and Cardoza each drove in a run. Logsdon reached base twice and scored once, and Whittier finished with seven hits and six walks on the afternoon.
After the early first-inning trouble, Diego Castillo (Fontana, Calif., San Bernardino Valley College) settled things down with two innings in relief, and Andrew Berdelis (Huntington Beach, Calif., Huntington Beach) gave the Poets five innings while allowing three runs, two earned, and striking out four.
Whittier will look to bounce back as the SCIAC series continues Saturday at home. The first game is scheduled for 11:00 AM at Mendez Stadium.
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