LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Baseball split a doubleheader with the Caltech Beavers at Anderson Field on Saturday, dropping 2 out of 3 games in the weekend series.
GAME 1
In game 1 of the day, the Tigers got on the board first in a big 2nd inning in which they scored 4 runs. The scoring got started with a clutch 2-out single from Alejandro Decreux with the bases loaded that brought home Tyler Kubo and Tommy Woods to give Oxy a 2-0 lead.
After going deep in Friday's game, Tommy Munch kept things rolling by doubling to right field to bring in Ben Fitzerald and Decruex in the 2nd inning to double the Tiger lead and make it 4-0.
Munch stayed locked in for his very next at bat, taking a low and away breaking ball out over the right field fence for his 2nd home run of the series. Walks to the next two batters would keep the rally going and allow Ben Rutkin to come to bat as a pinch hitter with two runners on.
Rutkin lined a ball down the right field line that brought home Dan Major and Jeffery Cambra to add two more runs to the board for Oxy and give them a 7-run lead. The Tiger lead was up to 8-0 after Ducreux brought in Tommy Woods with his second RBI single of the game.
Caltech would get on the board with a 2-run home run to left field in the 6th inning, but Oxy would go on to win the game 8-2.
Riley Holcomb was just what Oxy needed on the mound in this one, tossing 6 innings while only allowing 2 runs on 4 hits and striking out 9 Beavers to get the win, improving to 1-0 on the season. Dylan Fanelli and Antonio Vazquez each pitched scoreless innings in relief to close out the win.
Tommy Munch finished the game 3 for 5 at the plate with a home run and 3 RBIs. Alejandro Decreux was 2 for 4 at the plate with 3 RBIs and a run scored.
GAME 2
The Tigers were able to strike early once again in game 2 of the day to keep the momentum rolling their way.
With 2 outs and the bases loaded in the 1st inning, Logan Rooney was able to line a ball down the right field line for a double that scored 2 runs, as Ben Rutkin was thrown out trying to score from first base.
The Beavers cut the lead in half with an RBI single to right field that made the score 2-1. With 2-outs and the bases loaded the Tigers turned to Wilson Schwegler out of the bullpen to get out of the jam.
Schwegler induced a ground ball into the hole at shortstop but in an attempt to get an out at third, the ball was thrown away into the Caltech dugout, allowing two runs to score to give the Beavers a 3-2 lead.
Oxy was able to respond in the 6th inning with singles from Ben Rutkin, Tommy Woods and Tyler Kubo that loaded the bases before Tommy Munch would watch four straight balls for an RBI walk that tied the game at 3.
A hit batsmen was able to start a Caltech rally in the top of the 8th inning that led to the Beavers scoring 2 runs on two different RBI singles.
The Tigers had a chance to respond in the bottom of the 8th, as they had 2 runners on with 2 outs but did not get the hit to keep the rally going. CIT added an insurance run in the top of the 9th and secured a 6-3 win in the bottom of the 9th.
After the split, baseball is 2-8 on the year and 1-5 in SCIAC play. They will be in action next Saturday, March 8th as they travel to Shreveport, LA to take on Centenary College in a 3-game set.
