LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 24, 2009) – It was a tied game
in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded and two
outs when sophomore Daniel Kelley stepped up to
the plate. The ball he hit found its way past the diving Poets
shortstop to score pinch runner Alex Bukac to seal
a Tigers 7-6 come-from-behind win today over Whittier College on
Anderson Field.
Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Doherty (2-0),
who moved from first base to the mound, recording the final out in
the top of the inning, connected for a solo homerun to right field,
pulling the Tigers within a run.
Left fielder Steve Schaffer singled with one
out and advanced to second when Anthony Salsedo
was tagged out in a rundown between third and home. Senior
Richie Veihl then doubled down the left field
line, plating Schaffer to knot things at 6-6.
Whittier (11-24, 5-11 SCIAC) took out starting pitcher Justin
Armijo (2-6) with two outs in the ninth and Nick
Saraceni proceeded to draw a walk before freshman
Kevin Ozaki beat out an infield single to deep
short, loading the bags for Kelley.
Starting pitcher Matthew Jones got a
no-decision after throwing 4.1 scoreless innings before the Poets
connected for four consecutive hits knocking the senior righty out
of the game after striking out a pair. Ross
Pomerantz also went 4.1 in relief, allowing three runs,
two earned, on three hits while also striking out a pair. After the
Poets built a two-run ninth inning lead, Doherty took the hill with
two outs and runners on second and third, ending the inning with a
groundball to shortstop Jason Jebbia.
Occidental collected 13 hits and every starter reached base at
least once. Doherty led the way going 3-for-4, coming up a triple
shy of the cycle. Schaffer, Veihl and Ozaki finished with two-hits
apiece. Jebbia led off the fourth inning with a homerun.
The Poets recorded 10 hits with two apiece from Reed Tuttle and
Anthony Cappelletti while third baseman Mike Benavente led off the
ninth with an opposite field solo homerun.
The two teams will finish their season series tomorrow at
Memorial Field on the campus of Whittier College. First pitch of
game one is slated for 11:00 a.m.
