In the final match of the regular season, top-ranked Fresno Pacific (18-1, 14-0 GSAC) picked up a 6-3 Golden State Athletic Conference victory over eighth-ranked Westmont Men’s Tennis on Thursday afternoon at the Abbott Tennis Courts. Despite the loss, the Warriors (9-9, 6-8 GSAC) demonstrated that they are ready to compete at the upcoming NAIA National Championships. Injuries appear to be the Warriors’ biggest obstacle.

The Warriors concluded the season in fifth place in the GSAC standings. The Golden State Athletic Conference boasts six teams in the top nine of the nation and a seventh team (which is receiving votes in the national poll. Fresno pacific won the GSAC crown followed by #5 Azusa Pacific (17-4, 11-3 GSAC), #3 Concordia (15-4, 10-4 GSAC), #6 Vanguard (14-7, 8-6 GSAC), Westmont, #9 Point Loma Nazarene (11-10, 5-9 GSAC), Biola (6-15, 2-12 GSAC) and Hope International (1-19, 0-14).

[results]

Westmont’s Kasey Kearin and Brent Lagace earned the title of GSAC Champion at the Golden State Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships hosted by Westmont College on Friday and Saturday. The competition involved 407 athletes representing nine schools. Point Loma Nazarene was the men’s team winner while Azusa Pacific claimed GSAC Champion honors in the women’s competition.

Lagace shattered the school and stadium records in the men’s javelin with a throw of 68.15 meters (223-07). The mark was 5.15 meters better than his own previous record of 63.00 set just four weeks ago at the Westmont celebration meet. Westmont’s Andrew Kolodinski took second place with a mark of 64.77 meters (212.06), the second longest throw in the Warrior record books. Both men exceeded the automatic qualification mark for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships which will be held in Marion, Indiana May 27-29.

Kearin earned the GSAC title in the long jump with a mark of 5.53 meters (18-1.75), which is a provisional qualifying mark for the NAIA Championships. She also took second in the triple jump with a mark of 11.60 meters (38-0.75). Her triple jump mark earns an automatic qualification at nationals.

[men's results] [women's results]

Due to Santa Barbara’s extended rainy season, Tuesday’s tennis matches and Wednesday’s baseball games have been postponed.

Westmont men’s and women’s tennis will make up their schedule matches with Vanguard on Monday, April 26. The men will begin at noon with the women starting at two o’clock. Both matches will be played at the Abbott Tennis Courts.

Baseball has moved its doubleheader with Point Loma Nazarene back one day. The two teams will square off on Thursday, April 22 at Russ Carr Field. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

Athletes from nine teams will converge on the new Westmont Track to compete in the Golden State Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships. The two-day event will feature some of the top track and field athletes in the NAIA.

The event begins on Friday, April 23 at ten o’clock with heptathlon and decathlon events. Field events start at 11:30 a.m. with running events beginning with prelims at one o’clock. The first running finals will be held at 4:30 on Friday afternoon.

Decathlon and Heptathlon events resume on Saturday morning at 10:30, as do field events. The 4 X 100 meter relay finals will kick off Saturday’s running events (all finals) at one o’clock.

There is no charge to attend the event. Fans can enjoy the event from the stands which are built into the hillside and include grassy areas at each level. A new digital display will help to keep fans and competitors aware of individual performances and team results.

[schedule] [heat sheets] [live results]

The Warriors collected all six of their hits in the fifth inning and posted seven runs as Westmont Baseball (11-28, 7-21 GSAC) earn a 7-1 Golden State Athletic Conference victory over Concordia (22-19, 12-16 GSAC) in the second game of a doubleheader at Russ Carr Field. The Warriors dropped the first game 8-1.

Tim Leary pitched a complete seven-inning game, allowing just one run on four hits. The big right-hander allowed two walks and struck out four. With the win, Leary improves his record to 2-2.

Right fielder Coby Cress led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and then advanced to third on a double down the right field line by first baseman Colten Christianson. That brought up center fielder Terrell Wong who put the Warriors up 3-1 with a home run to left.

[game one box] [game two box]

In a match held at Cal State Northridge, Westmont Women’s Tennis (5-12, 4-8 GSAC) earned a 8-1 Golden State Athletic Conference win over the Mustangs of The Master’s College (2-13, 2-11 GSAC).

The Warriors swept the doubles matches to take a 3-0 advantage. At number one, Cassie Strange and Ilissa Mathews defeated Courtney Ringle and Kaitlin Thaxton 8-0. Tara Yekrang and Sarah Louie earned an 8-4 win at number two doubles over Jennifer Baughman and Abigail Zaretsky. On the number three court, Sarah Chhum and Audrey Seversen defeated Erigena Sallaku and Shannon Van Aswgen 8-6.

[results]

The Master’s (17-19, 10-14 GSAC) proved to be inhospitable hosts on Saturday as the Mustangs defeated Westmont Baseball (10-25, 6-18 GSAC) in a Golden State Athletic Conference doubleheader in Santa Clarita. The Mustangs won the first game 6-2 and the second 7-2.

The Warriors managed just two hits off the Mustangs’ starter David Goodenough who allowed one run in eight innings. Westmont picked up another run and two hits against Jacob Miranda who pitched the ninth inning. Kyle Noe took the loss for the Warriors after giving up four runs, three of which were earned, on seven hits.

The Warriors scored both of their runs on sacrifice flies, one by designated hitter Timothy Leary in the first inning and one by pinch hitter Geoff Rocha in the ninth.

[game 1 box] [game 2 box]

Four Mustang runs in the eighth inning and three in the ninth proved to be too much as Westmont Baseball (11-23, 6-16 GSAC) fell to Golden State Athletic Conference opponent The Master’s (15-19, 8-14) by a score of 11-5 on Thursday afternoon at Russ Carr Field.

Designated Tim Leary hit a monster two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Westmont a 5-4 lead. Leary’s blast cleared not only the center field fence, but also the 35-foot high batters eye.

[box score]