Jack Witte
Jack Witte

Sagehens capitalize on Stags’ errors in 4-3 loss

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team opened up their SCIAC season playing cross-street rivals Pomona-Pitzer and lost 4-3 on Friday afternoon. The Stags did not give up any earned runs in the game and rallied in the eighth and ninth innings to put up three runs of their own. Timely hitting by the Sagehens allowed them to score enough to keep CMS at bay.

Pomona-Pitzer got off to a swift start with a run in the first inning batted in by EJ Lopez after a bobble in right field.  With senior Chad Hadzinsky on the mound, the game was a 1-0 pitchers' duel until the fifth inning.

CMS gained momentum in the bottom of the third inning when freshman Evan Opperman hit a lead off single into right field and then junior Christian Hoxsie beat out a bunt.  Unfortunately Opperman was doubled off when the pitcher caught a small pop up and gunned it back to second base.

An outfield miscue resulted in a run scoring for the Sagehens and the batter advancing to second base in the top of the fifth inning. A two run homer by Lopez increased Pomona-Pitzer's lead to 4-0 but the Stags were not disheartened.

Senior Scott Witte injected excitement into the sixth inning when he beat out an infield hit and then stole second base. Again, the Stags were stopped short with an inning-ending double play, keeping them scoreless.

Starting right fielder and lead off hitter, sophomore Samuel Woodman came into the circle in relief. He pitched four shutout innings and, through keeping Pomona-Pitzer off balance, gave his Stags the chance to come back in the late innings.

After a pitching change for the Sagehens in the bottom of the eighth, CMS scored on two walks, a sophomore Jack Witte infield single, and a bases loaded hit by pitch. Pomona-Pitzer's third pitcher inherited the bases loaded and a sacrifice fly by senior John Rizzo put another run on the board pushing the score to 4-2 going into the top ninth inning.

CMS forced the Sagehens to go three up, three down in the top half of the inning. Hoxsie, a spark plug for the Stags, hit a lead off double and later scored on a fielder's choice. With a runner on first base and one out, CMS was unable to tie up the game leaving the final score 4-3.

Hoxsie and Opperman were both 2-4 at the plate while Jack Witte was 2-5 including a triple in the fourth inning.

For Pomona-Pitzer, Lopez was 3-4 and drove in three of their four runs.

The Stags play the rest of the three game series at Pomona-Pitzer in Saturday's double header at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Box Score: http://cmsathletics.org/sports/bsb/2013-14/boxscores/20140214_ohlf.xml

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