Opperman crushes two to take series opener over Whittier
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Claremont-Mudd-Scripps | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 1 |
|
Whittier | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 0 |
WHITTIER, Calif. – Senior Evan Opperman (CMC) brought the hammer on Friday afternoon, clubbing two homeruns on the road to help the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team to a 5-4 victory over Whittier College. In the close affair, the Stags (14-18, 8-11) were helped by a solid outing from freshman Cameron Cash (CMC) who threw seven innings, allowing just four runs, and the sophomore Ben Meyer (CMC) closed the game with two strikeouts for his first save of the season.
CMS quickly got on board in the first inning after junior Trey Smith (CMC) hit a sacrifice fly to score sophomore Ryan Motter (CMC) from third. The Poets tied the game in the same inning in similar fashion and it was not until the fourth inning when Opperman drilled a solo shot to give CMS a 2-1 lead. With one out and a runner on third, the Poets struck back again with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game again.
The Stags wasted little time to respond, erupting for three runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead. With two outs and a runner on second, sophomore Chase Eller (CMC) drilled a triple down the right field line to score the runner. Opperman followed with a two-run homerun to give CMS a 5-2 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Poets tried to rally back, putting up two runs off an RBI single from Brandon Mulrooney and a bases loaded walk, but relief pitcher senior John O'Malley (CMC) contained the damage after forcing a fielder's choice to end the inning.
After a scoreless top of the ninth, the Stags sent Meyer to the mound to close it out and the sophomore did not disappoint with a 1-2-3 inning to end the game.
The Stags will return home tomorrow to host the Poets in a doubleheader, with the first game starting at 11 a.m.
By Young Kim
Sports Information Assistant
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