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WHITTIER — Nolan McCarthy pitched another gem and the Occidental baseball team scored in all but two innings on its way to a 10-0 win at Whittier on Friday in Game 1 of a three-game series with the Poets this weekend.

McCarthy, a junior from Portland, Ore., struck out nine batters, and gave up just three hits and one walk in nine outstanding innings pitched. The 6-foot-5 righty has been about as good as you can be through 26 innings this season with 32 strikeouts and just four walks, and an ERA of 1.38.

In all five of his outings this year, McCarthy has either earned the win or the save.

McCarthy is one of three Oxy starters whose ERAs are less than 1.50. Tom Butler is at 1.29 and Diego Ramirez is at 1.42.

Oxy's pitching has been the key to its outstanding start to the season with a team ERA of 1.95. The Tigers' staff has struck out 91 batters and walked just 41.

The Tigers were also very impressive at the plate on Friday, led by Bryan Smith, who went 1 for 4 with a two-run homer and a pair of sacrifice flies for a total of four RBIs. 

Reid Gibbs upped his hitting streak to eight games and his multi-hit streak to five games, going 2 for 5 with an RBI and a double. He has 11 hits in his last 18 at bats.

Michael Ingram was 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, Jake Fredrickson was 2 for 2 with three runs scored and an RBI, and Jack Brancheau was 2 for 5 with a run scored.

Season Impact: Oxy improves to 10-2 overall and 1-0 in SCIAC.

Whittier falls to 3-5 and 2-2.

Next Game: Oxy is back in action with a doubleheader against Whittier at Anderson Field on Saturday. Game 1 begins at 11 a.m.