LOS ANGELES — Occidental secured a narrow 3–2 victory over Whitman on Friday, with all three of its runs coming in the fifth inning.
Occidental tallied seven hits, including one home run, while Whitman recorded six hits and a single home run.
Nate Petz put Whitman on the board in the first inning with a solo home run to left center. Whitman extended its lead in the third inning. After Jordan Montemayor reached on an error and advanced on a walk, Petz delivered an RBI single to bring Montemayor home, making it 2–0 in favor of the visitors.
Occidental seized momentum in the fifth inning.
Logan Rooney's solo home run to left center jump-started the offense.
Antonio Longobardi followed with a double, and
Ben Rutkin's single put runners on the corners.
Nicholas Gonzalez then doubled down the left field line, driving in Longobardi.
Griffen Rogers capped the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Rutkin, giving Occidental a 3–2 lead.
Occidental's pitching and defense held Whitman scoreless for the remainder of the game, securing a narrow 3–2 victory.
Lincoln Lyons pitched a strong game for Occidental, completing 7 2/3 innings and allowing only one earned run. He faced 31 batters, gave up six hits, struck out four, and walked just one. Lyons also showed control with 88 pitches, 61 of which were strikes.
Malcolm Munnich came on in the 8th and got the huge 3rd out of the inning as Whitman was threatening with runners on 1st and 2nd.
Logan Rooney delivered a strong performance with two hits, including a home run, and drove in one run.
Griffen Rogers contributed with a double and a sacrifice fly, collecting one RBI while also recording the save with a scoreless 9th inning on the mound.
The Tigers are back at Anderson Field tomorrow, March 28th, for a doubleheader against Whitman to wrap up the 3-game series. First pitches are scheduled for 11AM and 2:30PM.
