Whittier College Baseball Sweeps George Fox to Complete Non-Conference

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Baseball team wrapped up a tough three game series with George Fox University Saturday taking the doubleheader 7-6 and 9-6 at Hugh B. Mendez Stadium.

The Purple & Gold wrap up their non-conference schedule and went 13-3 during the stretch, one of the best single season non-conference marks under Head Coach Mike Rizzo.  Whittier also improves to 17-11, 4-8 SCIAC and have won eight of their last ten. 

Game 1 (W, 7-6)

The Bruins took an early lead in game one adding one in the first and a pair in the third to go on top 3-0.  Jerred Seamons generated another run for George Fox in the 5^th to move the score to 4-0 but that lead soon evaporated as the Purple & Gold stormed back remaining poised at the plate, exploding for seven runs in the bottom half of the 6^th to take a 7-4 advantage. 

During the big inning Whittier strung together seven runs on seven hits and capitalized on a Bruin

error to go on top for the first time.  Andrew Lamar (Alta Loma, Calif.), Daniel Tuerffs (Yorba Linda, Calif.), and Matthew Macey (Oceanside, Calif.) strung together back-to-back-to-back base knocks that brought in one.  Brandon Mulrooney (Placentia, Calif.) and John Vuz (Blairstown, NJ) kept the rally going with base hits that scored another and Steven Castro (Long Beach, Calif.) followed with a three-run blast, his first of his career that cleared the bases.

But the inning wasn't done there as Dmitri Washington (Peoria, AZ) stepped in and drew a walk before stealing second and Lamar capped off the inning with a single through the left side that gave WC a three-run advantage.

This cushion was necessary because GFU answered with a pair of runs in the 8^th that cut the deficit to one.  Then in the ninth Justin Ushio (Mililani, HI) came in to pitch and was able to leave the game-tying run at second striking out Voelzke and forcing Baek into a groundout to short, en route to picking up his second save on the season. 

Tim Turpen (Chino Hills, Calif.) went 4.0 innings giving up four runs on ten hits but left with the no decision.  Jack Silva (Katy, TX) came in relief and went 4.0 innings as well surrendering just two runs on five hits as he picked up his second win on the season.

Lamar finished the game 3-5 with a run scored and an RBI.  Vuz was 2-4 with a run scored and Castro was 1-3 scoring once and driving in three.                

Game 2 (W, 9-6)

George Fox for the second straight game put up an early lead bringing across two with back to back singles coming on two outs.  But this time the Poet bats would strike early stringing together four runs on three hits in the bottom half of the frame thanks to Michael Angulo (Sunnyvale, Calif.) singling in Lamar, Mulrooney driving in another and Vuz capping off the inning with a double down the left field line that brought in another two giving Whittier a 4-2 lead.

The Bruins stuck to their approach at the plate though and picked up another two runs in the 3^rd and 4^th innings swinging the momentum but again this two-run advantage wouldn't hold as the Purple & Gold would put up five runs over the 6^th and 7^th to go on top for good. 

In the 6^th, GFU was able to get two quick outs but couldn't get out of the inning as Mulrooney would walk keeping the inning alive followed by a Vuz double to right center and a Castro single through the left side.

In the 7^th, Whittier broke the tie with a three spot all coming with two outs for the second straight inning.  Tuerffs was the first Poet to reach with a single through the left side and was moved over to third after an Angulo double down the left field line.  After a pitching change, Mason Blansett (Lodi, Calif.) stepped in and converted with a single up the middle that scored two and Vuz ended the inning reaching on an error by the third baseman, allowing the third and final run to come in.

Justin Kottinger (Stockton, Calif.) picks up the win going the final 5.1 innings scoreless, while giving up four hits.  He improves to 2-1.  Angulo, Mulrooney, Vuz and Castro had multi-hit games.  Vuz added a run scored and four RBI's, Mulrooney scored twice and drove in another and Angulo had two runs scored and an RBI.                

Whittier returns to their Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) schedule this weekend when they take on Cal Lutheran University in a three-game series.  They travel to Cal Lutheran on Friday, April 6 before hosting the Kingsmen for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 7 with game times set for 11:00am and 2:30pm.