Tigers slip past Stags in ninth

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Despite holding a one run lead going into the ninth inning, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team fell to the Occidental Tigers 6-4 in the first of a three game series.

Freshman pitcher Nick DeGallier (CMC) started strong, striking out two in the top of the first inning.

The CMS offense took full advantage of their opportunity to put quick points on the board when senior infielder Jack Witte (CMC) singled in the leadoff spot, and Witte subsequently scored on a passed ball with two outs on the board. Sophomore infielder Nolan Anderson (CMC) ripped a single just beyond the arm of a diving shortstop to drive in freshman infielder Ryan Motter (CMC) and the Stags led 2-0.

DeGallier pitched a pair of 1-2-3 innings in the second and third but Oxy came alive in the fourth. The Tigers got on the board on a Devon DeRaad bouncing RBI single and tied things up when Walker Marks drilled a solo home run.

After a rocky first, Oxy pitcher Nolan Watson turned in five solid innings of work allowing the Tigers to gain a one run lead in the seventh. Graham Pimm was walked and advanced two bases on consecutive wild pitches, allowing Charlie Caccamo to bring him home on a double to right field.

Watson continued to pitch well into the bottom of the eighth until Witte earned a walk and senior infielder MacKenzie Menthen (CMC) doubled to left field to score Witte and tie the game. With two outs and Menthen on second, freshman pinch hitter Mitchell Allan (CMC) singled to right center to give the Stags a one run lead heading into the ninth.

The Tigers came out swinging in their final offensive inning of the game, stringing together a series of hits that eventually saw Brady Fuller score on a sac fly to tie the game, Caccamo score on an Eamon McNeil single through the left side and Jack Branche score on a walk with the bases loaded. Occidental completely turned the table on the Stags in the top of the ninth as they then led 6-4 going into the bottom half.

Despite having the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, CMS could not come up with any offense as the Tigers walked away with the 6-4 win.

Witte went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two walks, while DeGallier allowed three earned runs on nine hits in 6.2 innings pitched.

For Occidental, Watson only allowed four hits in 7.2 innings pitched. Fuller went 3-for-5 while DeRaad had two RBIs on two hits.

The three game series will continue on March 5 at Occidental for the 3-9 (2-5 SCIAC) Stags.

By Tony Steege
Sports Information Assistant

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