LOS ANGELES — Occidental (9-4, 4-2) fell short in a high-scoring contest against Puget Sound (9-3, 1-2), losing 13-11 on Friday. Despite a late rally with six runs in the ninth inning, Occidental could not overcome Puget Sound's eight-run eighth inning.
Occidental took an early lead in the first inning when
Griffen Rogers singled, stole second, advanced to third on a flyout, and then scored on
Evann Smith's sacrifice fly. Occidental led 1-0 after the first inning.
Puget Sound tied the game in the fourth inning with a sacrifice groundout by Jim O'Brien that brought home Ryan Spero. The score was 1-1 after four innings.
The Loggers pulled ahead in the fifth inning, capitalizing on an error and an RBI single by Cooper Allen to score three runs. The score was 4-1 in favor of Puget Sound through five innings.
Occidental added a run in the sixth inning with
Benjamin Fitzgerald's RBI single, narrowing Puget Sound's lead to 5-2.
In the eighth inning, Puget Sound extended its lead significantly with an eight-run outburst, highlighted by an Armand Lettiere grand slam. The home team responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, aided by
Logan Rooney's RBI single and a couple of errors by the Loggers. The score was 13-5 at the end of the eighth inning.
The Tigers mounted a dramatic comeback attempt in the ninth inning.
Thomas Munch hit a two-run double, and
Antonio Longobardi added a two-run double of his own.
Alejandro Ducreux singled to drive in another run, but the rally ended with the score at 13-11 with UPS on top.
Lincoln Lyons started on the mound for Occidental, pitching 5 2/3 innings and allowing five runs on eight hits while walking five and striking out one.
Antonio Vazquez entered in relief, throwing 1 2/3 innings.
Quinn Smith closed out the game with a scoreless inning, surrendering one hit.
Rogers scored two runs and stole one base. Munch contributed two runs and drove in two RBIs, while also drawing two walks. Rooney recorded two hits and two RBIs, adding two runs to the scoreboard. Smith reached base twice, scoring two runs and drawing a walk.
Occidental has a record of 9-4 and 4-2 in the SCIAC. The Loggers have a record of 9-3 and 1-2 in the conference. The two teams will wrap up the series tomorrow at Anderson Field with a doubleheader with games at 11:00am and 2:00pm.
