Stags Continue to Battle, Lose Tough Games Against La Verne

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team took on the University of La Verne Leopards Saturday March 16, at Arce Field in conference doubleheader play. The Stags fell in game one, 8-2 and dropped game 2, 8-7. CMS is now 2-13 in the SCIAC and 3-17 overall.

Game 1: University of La Verne 8, CMS 2
The Leopards reached the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning, when Dylan Leong flied out to score Nolan Henley. CMS answered in the bottom half of the inning when Junior IF Scott Witte singled to center, scoring Andrew Burgard and William Knowles and took the early 2-1 lead. CMS junior P Andor Kesselman threw six solid innings and left the game with the score tied 2-2.

In the top half of the seventh inning is where La Verne made the Stags pay. The Leopards were able to score six runs on five hits to bust open a tight game and take the lead at 8-2. CMS was unable to plate another run the rest of the way, with the final score being 8-2.

The Stags were lead in game one by Scott Witte at the plate, going 2 for 3 with two RBI. His brother Jack Witte also had a nice game hitting, going 2 for 4. Kesselman finished the day giving up two runs on five hits and striking out a pair.

Game 1 box score: http://www.cmsathletics.org/sports/bsb/2012-13/boxscores/20130316_7498.xml

Game 2: University of La Verne 8, CMS 7
The Stags took to game two looking to earn a split of the twin bill.  The Leopards scored first in the opening inning, with Michael Stewart filling out to score Dylan Leong.  Again, the Stags were able to bounce back with a run of their own in the bottom half of the first, on a single by Scott Witte, scoring Knowles.

CMS put a nice second inning together, scoring four runs on three hits, all of which were with two outs. Brett Watanabe had a huge double to right center field, scoring three runs to give the Stags the 4-1 lead. Junior DH Ray Hurwitz singled to right, scoring Watanabe to push the lead to 5-1.

But in the top of the fourth inning, La Verne was able to score four runs of their own and then add another in the fifth and two more in the sixth, making the score 8-5 going into the bottom of the sixth.

The Stags scored two in the sixth, to close the Leopards lead to 8-7, off the bat of Watanabe who double to left center field this time around.

Sophomore John Rizzo started on the mound for CMS going 4 2/3 innings allowing seven hits and six earned runs and striking out two in the loss.  Freshman Jesse Crabtree had a nice showing in relief, allowing two hits and no runs in 2 2/3 innings of work.

Watanabe finished game two going 2 for 3 and five RBI.  Knowles was 3 for 4 and scored three runs.  Hurwitz also had a nice game at the dish going 2 for 4 respectively.

The Stags next take the field for another doubleheader, Saturday March 23, against Pacific (OR) starting at 11:00 AM.

Game 2 box score: http://www.cmsathletics.org/sports/bsb/2012-13/boxscores/20130316_1z7y.xml

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