Stags and Tigers Split Doubleheader to Begin SCIAC Series

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team split a doubleheader with the Occidental Tigers on Saturday afternoon, earning a 3-2 victory in Game Two after dropping Game One by a 7-3 final. Justin Hull (CMC) highlighted the day on the mound, tossing eight innings in the second game of the doubleheader, allowing just five hits and two runs while striking out eight to earn his third victory of the season.

Game One – Occidental defeats CMS 7-3

The Occidental Tigers scored two runs in the first, third, and fifth innings to take a 6-1 through five frames. CMS closed the gap with single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but they were unable to pull any closer than 6-3. The Stags eventually fell by a 7-3 final score, after the Tigers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth.

After a scoreless top of the first for the Stags, Eamon McNeil delivered a two-run homer in the bottom half of the frame to put Occidental on the board. The 2-0 Occidental lead held until the top of the third, when Kevin Nakahara (HMC) drove home Brandon Mitchell with a sacrifice fly to left field.

With their lead cut down to one at 2-1, Occidental tacked on two runs in the bottom of the third with an RBI groundout and run scoring on a passed ball.

After a scoreless fourth, the Tigers added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth before CMS scored single runs in the sixth and seventh. Patrick Gavin (CMC) knocked his fourth home run of the season with a solo shot in the sixth and CMS added a run in the seventh on a wild pitch.

Henri Levenson (CMC) went 4-5 in Game One and accounted for four of the Stags' seven hits in the game.

Nico Mannucci (CMC) tossed 3.1 innings in relief allowing one run (earned) and three hits while striking out six.

Game Two – CMS defeats Occidental 3-2

In Game Two, the Stags scored three runs in the top of the second inning and held the Tigers to just two to earn the doubleheader split with the 3-2 victory. After a quiet first inning, the Stags did all their damage of Game Two in the second inning. With one out, CJ Novogradac (CMC) was hit by a pitch to start the rally. A single from Patrick Gavin and a fielder's choice from Ryan Motter put runners on first and second with two outs for Brandon Mitchell (CMC). An opposite field single to right, brought home Gavin from second and put runners on the corners.

After Mitchell stole second to put two runners in scoring position, Pat Shore (CMC) reached on an error by the center fielder that allowed both runners to score and give CMS the 3-0 lead. The Tigers got out of the inning with a strikeout, but the damage was done. The three runs is all the Stags would need in the game, as they held the Tigers to just two runs across the nine frames.

Occidental scored their first run of the game in the bottom of the third with a two-out double to left center by Jake Fredricks, cutting the CMS lead down to 3-1. The Stags threatened for an insurance run in the top of the fifth when Chase Eller ripped a triple to right field with two outs. Kevin Nakahara attempted to score from first on the play, but he was cut down at the dish and the score remained 3-1.

Occidental tacked on their second run with a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth, but a fly out and a groundout ended the inning and the threat for Occidental. CMS threatened again in the top of the ninth, but stranded two runners and the lead remained 3-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth.

Danny Porras (CMC) was called on in relief and worked around a one-out walk to nail down for the 3-2 CMS victory. Porras notched two strikeouts while picking up his fourth save of the season.

Justin Hull tossed eight strong innings, allowing just five hits and two runs (both earned) while striking out eight and walking none. Hull earned his third win of the season against two losses.

The Stags and Tigers will finish their three-game season on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. in the second game of a split doubleheader. CMS and Middlebury will kick off the day with the first game of the doubleheader at 11:00 a.m. on Arce Field.