Soggy Sunday split for the Stags against Oxy

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Continuing with conference play, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team lost the first game of the double header against Occidental 5-2 but then took an early lead in the second game and got the 8-4 win for a split on the day. The Stags are now 2-6 in SCIAC contests, 4-9 overall. Sophomore Mackenzie Menthen was 4-8 over both games with two doubles while senior Ray Hurwitz was part of three double plays on defense.

Game 1: Occidental 5, CMS 2

The Tigers seemed to find their groove hitting singles and a double down the left field and jumped on CMS with a two run lead in the top of the second inning and tacked on another in the third to go ahead by three runs. The Stags answered back with two of their own off a well timed single by freshman Evan Opperman scoring junior Christian Hoxsie who had gotten on due to a Tiger error. A deep sacrifice fly by senior John Rizzo scored sophomore Jack Witte in the bottom of the third.

Occidental increased their lead back up to three runs scoring in the top of the sixth and the eighth innings. In the top of the seventh, left fieler Hoxsie made a big diving catch with a runner on base to hold the Tigers scoreless in the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, the Stags put pressure on new pitchers for Occidental and found ways to get on base. Unfortunately, they could not convert those base runners into runs on the board as they stranded three to end the game.

In the first game, Menthen hit two doubles and played flawless defense at first base.

Game 2: CMS 8, Occidental 4

After the loss in the first game, the Stags wasted no time to score in the second game of the double header. In the bottom of the first, senior Scott Witte hit a leadoff double to the left center gap and scored off a single to right field by Rizzo. Hurwitz fired a shot back up the middle that was misplayed by the short stop and plated Menthen to give the Stags a 2-0 lead.

CMS notched two more runs in each the sixth and seventh innings. Hurwitz led off with a single up the middle and was driven in by junior Michael Gose who singled to right field. In the seventh, Jack Witte doubled over the center fielder's head and scored on another Opperman single.

The Stags really laid it on the Tigers in the eighth inning. Freshman James L'Esperance led off the inning with a walk and then his pinch runner Samuel Woodman stole second to get into scoring position. Gose tripled to center field and then easily crossed the plate himself on a Jack Witte single. CMS garnered two more runs on RBI walks to push the score to 8-3.

CMS starter sophomore Clayton Brock held the Tigers scoreless for seven complete innings allowing only five hits. In the top of the eighth senior Andor Kesselman came in in relief. Despite giving up a three-run homer to Oxy's Johnathan Brooks, Kesselman finished the game and got the save.

In the second game Hurwitz was involved in three double plays, two of which Jack Witte at second base turned and the third was unassisted at third base and then he threw home to Opperman for a tag play at the plate.

For Occidental, left and center fielders Jonathan Wong and Alec Strain made big league outfield plays on hits by the Stags. Both Wong and Strain had doubles and RBI on the day as well.

The Stags travel to play at Occidental this afternoon (3/3) to finish the three game series that was postponed due to rain over the weekend. CMS' next series is against Chapman, playing in Orange on Friday (3/7) and then a double header back at home on March 8 at 11 am and 2 pm.

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