By Tim Peterson
(Azusa) – Westmont scored three runs in the second inning and added the knock-out punch with eight more in the third to beat Azusa Pacific 11-3 Friday in the nightcap of a doubleheader.
Leading already 3-1 in the top of the third Michael Soper and Finn Snyder singled. Tanner Beltowski then singled to drive in a run and Tyler McEvoy walked to force in another run and force APU starter Gavino Rosales out of the game.
Joey Frey came on in relief and Colin Calahan greeted him with a run-scoring base hit. Daniel Patterson’s fly ball plated a run and after Jack Bollengier was hit by a pitch, Bryce McNeely walked to force in a run. Soper, in his second at bat of the inning, then delivered the decisive blow – a towering drive to right field for a grand slam home run. By the time the dust had settled eight runs were home and Westmont was cruising 11-1.
The Warriors didn’t score the rest of the way but that was more than enough.
The Cougars actually got on the board first in the first inning when Cade Marshan reached on an error, stole second and came all the way around to score on two throwing errors.
Westmont took the lead for good with three in the second. The inning was highlighted by a two-run single by Patterson.
The Cougars got one more in the sixth inning and another in the seventh when Danny Yanez parked one over the right field barrier for the final tally of the night.
The Cougars used five pitchers in the contest. After Rosales and Frey, Alfredo Frey, Brendon Cannings and Aisea Ahokovi went the rest of the way and kept the Warriors quiet.
Westmont used three pitchers overall. Ryan Humphries went five innings and didn’t allow an earned run to pick up the victory.
Westmont also won the first game 9-4 in 10 innings and swept the doubleheader.
With the two victories the Warriors improved to 28-9-3 on the season including 19-2-1 in the PacWest Conference which is good for first place. Azusa Pacific dropped to 17-21 overall and are third place in conference at 12-9.
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