LOS ANGELES — Occidental secured a decisive 17-3 victory over Curry College on Saturday at Anderson Field. The host team capitalized on Curry's errors, scoring 17 runs on 11 hits, including two home runs.
Occidental opened the game with a lead in the first inning as
Thomas Munch reached third on two errors and scored on
Benjamin Fitzgerald's RBI single. The inning ended with the Tigers up 1-0.
In the second inning, Occidental extended its lead, beginning with
Antonio Longobardi's single and a subsequent score on a balk.
Nicholas Gonzalez walked and later scored on another balk. Munch drove in
Griffen Rogers with an RBI single, and
Evann Smith grounded out to bring Munch home, making it 5-0 after two innings.
Fitzgerald added to the lead in the third inning with a solo homer to left center, pushing the Tigers ahead 6-0.
Occidental's offense surged in the fourth inning.
Tyler Kubo,
Logan Rooney, and Longobardi each drove in runs with singles. Gonzalez and Rogers contributed with an RBI hit-by-pitch and walk, respectively, resulting in a six-run inning and a 12-0 lead.
Curry managed to score in the top of the fifth, but Occidental responded with a run of its own as
Devin Sarkine was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, making it 13-1.
In the sixth, Occidental's
Alejandro Ducreux,
Andy Franck, and
Daniel Major each singled, setting the stage for
Ben Rutkin's grand slam down the left-field line, extending the lead to 17-1.
Curry added two more runs in the seventh, but Occidental maintained a comfortable margin, securing the 17-3 victory.
Aidan Alfers delivered a strong performance by pitching six innings, allowing only two hits and one earned run while striking out two batters. He maintained control with just one walk, efficiently navigating 89 pitches, 57 of which were strikes. Alfers also successfully picked off a runner, contributing to Occidental's defensive efforts.
Matthew Uytioco, in relief, pitched one inning, allowing two earned runs on two hits and two walks, while recording a strikeout to end the game in the 7th.
Fitzgerald scored two runs, collected two hits, and drove in two with a home run. Rutkin added four RBIs with a grand slam, contributing significantly to the offense. Gonzalez reached base three times, scoring twice and driving in a run. Alfers pitched six innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out two batters.
Occidental has now won five straight games thanks to the series sweep of Curry and are currently 14-4 overall on the season. The Tigers' next matchup will come against the Illinois Institute of Technology on March 17th at 3:00pm.
