Whittier Pulls Away Late Against Stags in Weekend Series Opener

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team trailed 6-0 heading into the home half of the sixth inning, but fought back by scoring four runs with the help of a big fly from Patrick Gavin (CMC). The freshman's sixth home run of the season brought the Stags within two at 6-4, but a five-run ninth inning allowed the Poets to run away with an 11-4 victory.

CMS shared the offense on Friday with seven different Stags notching hits in the contest, including a double from Brandon Mitchell (CMC) and Gavin's homer in the sixth. Gavin and Kevin Nakahara (HMC) each knocked in a pair of runs.

CMS starter, Konnor Kwok (CMC) kept the Poets off balance early in the game, but leadoff baserunners in the second and third both came around to score to help the Poets to a 3-0 lead through three innings. In the fifth, Whittier plated three runs with a bases loaded walk and a two-run single to left center from Jarred Samsing.

An inning later, the Stags still trailed 6-0 heading to the bottom of the sixth. CMS fought back with four runs in the frame to pull within two at 6-4. Henri Levenson (CMC) led off the inning with a single before Brandon Mitchell doubled down the left field line with one away to put runners on second and third. Moments later, Kevin Nakahara singled home two runs with a line drive to right center.

With Nakahara on first, Patrick Gavin sent a bullet over the left centerfield wall for a two-run homer to cut the deficit to just two runs at 6-4.

Both the Stags and Poets put zeros on the board in the seventh and eighth innings, but Whittier threatened in both frames. Stags' reliever, Nick DeGallier (CMC) wiggled out of trouble in both innings to preserve the two run game into the ninth, but Whittier put a five-spot on the board in the top of the ninth to squash the hope of a late CMS comeback.

Michael Angulo delivered the big blow in the inning with a three-run homer over the trees in left center and the Poets took the game by an 11-4 final.

CMS and Whittier will be back in action tomorrow morning when they take the field for a doubleheader at 11:00 a.m. in Whittier.