LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 11, 2009) – One day after the
Tigers fell to the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags 14-4 on the road to
open up a three-game series, Occidental snapped an eight-game
losing streak to pick up their first Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory of the spring. Oxy
earned a 3-2 win in the opening game of a double-header on Anderson
Field before falling 12-8 in the series finale.
Sophomore Brooks Belter tossed 7.2 innings in a
no-decision before classmate Ross Pomerantz came
in from the pen to close out the game, earning his first win of
2009, while the duo combined to strike out eight Stags.
After allowing back-to-back doubles down the left field line in
the first inning, Belter settled in and found a groove. He
scattered three hits from that point on while retiring the side in
order in each the third, fourth, sixth and seventh innings.
Pomerantz took the ball with two outs in the eighth and proceeded
to earn a strike out, ending the inning and a CMS threat as they
had a runner in scoring position. Again with two outs in the ninth,
Pomerantz finished things off with a strikeout, looking, to end the
game.
The Oxy bats were quiet, collecting just four hits, but managed
to manufacture three runs in the eighth inning. Daniel
Kelley and Jason Jebbia connected for
back-to-back singles after Dale Garrett was hit by
a pitch to lead off the inning and Kevin Ozaki
drew a walk. Kelley's single scored Garrett before
Kieran Doherty pushed Ozaki across the plate to
knot the game up at 2-2. Kelley then earned a free pass home,
scoring the winning run, when the CMS pitcher was called for a
balk.
In game two the outcome was similar to that of Friday
afternoon's.
CMS tagged Oxy starter Noel Banuelos for seven
runs on eight hits and three walks in 3.2 innings despite five
strikeouts from the senior righty.
Trailing 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth Spencer
Woolwine reached on a fielders choice and scored on a
double high off the left field wall from the bat of centerfielder
Nick Saraceni.
The Stags added a pair in the next inning before Doherty moved
from first to the mound. He was tagged for a single but then got a
fly ball to Saraceni who quickly doubled off the runner at second
to end the inning. Doherty retired the 4-5-6
batters in order in the sixth for the Tigers.
Oxy bounced back in the eight, sending 11 batters to the plate,
scoring six runs on five hits to cut the deficit to 12-8. The
highlight of the inning, and the game, came with one out when
Kelley, the Tigers' sophomore second baseman, sent a bullet
over the left field fence for a grand-slam. With runners on second
and third and no outs Oxy was unable to get any closer as they
dropped the night-cap.
Overall on the day Kelley, Jebbia and Ozaki had three hits
apiece and Kelley Ozaki and Woolwine each scored twice.
Richie Veihl, who was 2-for-3, Anthony
Salsedo and Saraceni each finished with two hits. Jebbia
was 3-for-3 on the base paths while Salsedo added a pair of stolen
bases. Kelley, Woolwine, Doherty and Gonzalo
Villasmil each swiped a bag as well.
Occidental (11-20, 1-11 SCIAC) will be on the road Friday
afternoon, April 17, when they face off with La Verne (17-12, 6-6
SCIAC) at 3:00 p.m. on Ben Hines Field to kick-off a two-day,
three-game series. Teams will return to Anderson Field for a
double-dip on Saturday.
