SERIES WIN
Warriors take season series from Simpson, strengthen postseason position
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 1 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 2 |
By Brandon Petersen
Westcliff handled business when it mattered most.
The Warriors split Saturday's doubleheader with Simpson but secured the season series, four games to three, reinforcing their standing in the Continental Athletic Conference and moving one step closer to a postseason berth.
Westcliff (20-15) opened the day with a decisive 9-3 win behind a balanced offensive attack and a steady outing on the mound from Slater Theisen.
The Warriors struck early, plating two runs in the first inning on an RBI groundout from Ryan Duron and a bases-loaded walk drawn by Nick Malvini. From there, Westcliff controlled the pace.
A three-run fourth inning stretched the lead to 5-1, highlighted by RBI hits from Landon Raskin and Jack Varney. The Warriors continued to add on late, scoring in the eighth and twice in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
Raskin led the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while AJ Quezada stayed hot at the plate with two more hits. Duron added a pair of RBIs, and Westcliff finished with 12 hits and eight walks, consistently applying pressure throughout the lineup.
On the mound, Theisen delivered a workhorse performance, going 8.2 innings while allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits. He struck out two and limited damage across multiple innings before handing the ball off in the ninth.
Simpson (23-16) showed flashes late, including a solo home run from Cayden Lee, but Westcliff maintained control throughout.
While the split on the day left both teams with a win, the larger picture favored the Warriors.
With the victory, Westcliff claimed the season series over Simpson, a key tiebreaker as the postseason approaches. The Warriors now sit in a strong position within the CAC standings and are all but assured a spot in the conference postseason field.
But the path forward won't be easy.
Looming over the conference is Georgia Gwinnett Grizzlies, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation and widely viewed as the team to beat.
If Westcliff is going to extend its season into a national run, it will have to go through them.
For now, though, the Warriors did exactly what the moment required — win the series, protect their position, and keep moving forward.