Ray Hurwitz
Ray Hurwitz

Walk-off gives CMS first win of 2014 and doubleheader split against Willamette

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team earned its first win of the young season as CMS split a pair of games with Willamette at Arce Field on Saturday afternoon. CMS is now 1-3 on the season.

Game 1: CMS 8, Willamette 7

A bases loaded walk by sophomore Alan Toscano pushed in the winning run for CMS in an 8-7 comeback win in the first game of the doubleheader. Down 7-4 after the top of the ninth inning, CMS scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth.

The ninth began for CMS with back-to-back singles followed by an RBI double by sophomore Jack Witte to narrow the Willamette lead to 7-5. Senior Scott Witte made it a one-run game with a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home freshman Evan Opperman who reached on a single. Senior Ray Hurwitz evened the score at 7-7 with a RBI single to right which scored Jack Witte and set up the eventual game-winning score.

In the top of the ninth, two of the three runs that Willamette scored were unearned to go ahead 7-4.

CMS trailed 4-1 in the seventh inning but scored three runs to even the score at 4-4. Opperman had a run-scoring single to center in the inning and Scott Witte added an RBI on a sacrifice fly. The third run of the inning scored on a passed ball. Scott Witte had a team-high two RBI for CMS in the game.

Both Jack Witte and Hurwitz each had three hits for CMS.

Sophomore Troy Odo got the win in relief for CMS as he pitched 2/3 of an inning to close out the game.

Tiras Koon went 1-for-2 with two RBI for Willamette.

Box score: http://cmsathletics.org/sports/bsb/2013-14/boxscores/20140208_wyps.xml

Game 2: Willamette 5, CMS 1

In the second game, CMS struggled to get its offense in gear as they could only put together one run against the Willamette pitching staff which held CMS to five hits. Tyler Olson started the game for Willamette and pitched two innings. Matt Jepsen pitched seven innings in relief for Willamette to get the win.

Willamette put two runs on the board in the top of the first inning on a two-run homer by Hunter Gallant. CMS answered with its lone run in the bottom of the inning. Jack Witte reached on a double down the left field line and the next batter, Scott Witte brought him home with a double to left to narrow the Willamette lead to 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, Willamette added two more runs with one run coming on a homer by Bryan Afzali. Junior John Rizzo led CMS with two hits in the second game. Sophomore reliever Samuel Woodman pitched four strong innings for CMS in relief and allowed just two hits and one run.

Box score: http://cmsathletics.org/sports/bsb/2013-14/boxscores/20140208_169k.xml

The two teams are back in action on Feb. 9 at noon for the finale of the four game series.

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