Stags Complete Three-Game Series Sweep of Caltech

PASADENA, Calif. – After topping the Caltech Beavers 11-5 on Friday afternoon, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team claimed a pair of victories on Saturday to sweep the season opening three-game SCIAC series against Caltech. The Stags took the first game on Saturday by a narrow 4-3 margin before notching a convincing 12-3 win in the nightcap.

Game One - CMS defeats Caltech 4-3
In Game One, the Stags got on the board in the top of the first thanks to a pair of Caltech errors. A two-run triple in the second and an RBI single in the third gave the Beavers a 3-1 lead heading into the fourth.

In the fourth, Henri Levenson (CMC) came up with a bases clearing, three-run double to give the lead back to the Stags at 4-3. Brandon Mitchell (CMC) started off the inning with a walk. Sean Emery (CMC) then reached on an error by the center fielder and Ryan Motter (CMC) loaded the bases after being hit by a pitch. With one away, Levenson delivered the big blow in the game with a double to the right-center gap. The double gave the Stags a 4-3 lead.

CMS threatened with runners in scoring position in the fifth, seventh, eight, and ninth but, they were unable to to add any insurance.

After three early runs from the Beavers, the combination of CMS starter, Justin Hull (CMC), and relievers Brandon Louie (CMC) and Danny Porras (CMC) tossed six-straight innings of shutout ball to close out the game and give CMS the 4-3 win.

Hull earned the victory after tossing six innings, allowing eight hits and three runs. Porras earned his second save in as many days with a perfect ninth inning.

Game Two - CMS defeats Caltech 12-3
In Game Two, the Stags earned a 12-3 victory to complete the series. Trey Smith (CMC) led the offensive effort with three hits in the game and four other Stags recorded two hits. A total of eight players drove home runs for the Stags.

The Stags scored a pair of runs in the top of the first inning thanks to a bases loaded walk to Smith and a RBI ground out by CJ Novogradac (CMC). Novogradac drove home another run in the third on a sacrifice fly and the Stags led 3-0 through three frames.

The Beavers scored a single run in three straight innings from the fourth to the sixth. All three Beavers' runs were scored on RBI doubles.

In the fifth, Brandon Mitchell roped an RBI double of his own driving home two Stags and heading to the seventh inning the Stags held a 5-3 lead. The Stags scored five more runs in the top of the seventh to push their lead to 10-3. The Stags scored five runs on four hits with Levenson, Carson Bridges (CMC), Motter, and Eller driving home runs during the rally.

The Stags added two runs in the ninth, and the Beavers were unable to score over the final three frames as CMS earned the 12-3 victory.

Konnor Kwok (CMC) went eight innings on the mound, striking out six and allowing three runs (two earned) while scattering nine hits.

With the sweep, CMS moves to 7-3 on the season and starts the season 3-0 in the SCIAC. The Stags are next in action on Monday afternoon when they host Castleton at 2:30 p.m. on Arce Field.