Warriors Capture Eighth Straight Victory
The Westcliff University baseball team made it eight straight wins Friday at the Great Park in Irvine, where the Warriors took down Bethesda, 7-6, in the first tilt of a doubleheader.
by Brandon Petersen
The Westcliff University baseball team made it eight straight wins Friday at the Great Park in Irvine, where the Warriors took down Bethesda, 7-6, in the first tilt of a doubleheader.
Warriors cleanup man, Trey Harmon, who has been raking at a scorching pace as of late, got the party started early in the first when he blasted a shot of the top of the fence in dead center for an RBI double that scored PJ Gordon.
After Westcliff starter Desi Garcia (6.1 IP, 4 ER, 7 K) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the third with a strikeout, Jacob Sanchez made it 3-1 in the fourth with a bases-loaded double that scored Adam Rossit and Harman, who had both reached on singles.
"These guys always come up clutch," Garcia said of his offense. "Whenever we are down, they come back and surprise me, always. I have confidence in my hitters to always get us a Dub."
Michael Hascup added an RBI knock of his own, and Matt Macias made it 5-2 in the seventh with a solo shot to right.
Garcia gave up two in the bottom half before making way to Travis Bonner, who closed out the seventh with ease.
But Bonner was touched up in the top of the eighth, allowing the Flames to tie it at six. Steven Diaz was able to close out the ninth, however, for his first save of the year.
"The bullpen did another great job," Garcia said. "Bonner always comes out with a bulldog mentality, he's not afraid of anything. So, he shut them down, and then Steven comes in with the same mentality. I have all the confidence in those guys."
Bonner finished with the win, but Garcia had plenty to be happy about following a successful outing.
"The first two innings started out a little shaky, I don't think I threw enough in the bullpen," Garcia said. "But after those first two innings, I started to really feel myself, I got into my legs, and I had all three pitches toward the end. I felt good."
Westcliff (8-3) wraps up its series with Bethesda Sunday at the Great Park.
To contact Brandon Petersen, e-mail brandonpetersen@westcliff.edu.