In the final baseball games played at Russ Carr Field before major renovation begins this fall, Westmont (9-33, 8-30) split a doubleheader with Vanguard (17-30, 8-27), taking the second game 4-1 after falling in the first 7-5. Senior pitcher Brandon Downs earned the win for Westmont in game two, pitching six innings in the seven inning game and giving up just one run on seven hits. Downs struck out three and walked two. Senior John Evans earned a save by pitching the seventh inning. He allowed just one hit and struck out one.

“It wanted to come out on senior day and do the best I could. It’s the last time I get to play and I wanted to give everything I had,” said Downs. “I was trying to make sure I didn’t get behind hitters and end up walking people. I was trying to get ahead and get them to ground out for me.”

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Westmont Baseball put together 12 hits against San Diego Christian in the first game of a doubleheader while starter Eric Gaustad held the Hawks scoreless for seven innings. But it was not quite enough as San Diego Christian came back with one in the eight and four in the ninth to claim a 5-4 win. The Hawks took the second game as well, winning by a score of 2-0 in seven innings.

Westmont took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning of game one when freshman first baseman Colten Christianson connected on an RBI-double to left field which scored freshman center fielder Taylor Maddox from third. Maddox had reached base when he singled to first with one away. After advancing to second on a balk, Maddox took third base on a groundout by freshman third baseman Jordan Bottenfield.

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Twelve student-athletes were honored on Thursday night at the Fourteenth Golden Eagle Award Dinner held at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort. Referred to as the ‘best night of the year for Westmont Athletics,’ the event is sponsored by the Pacific Beverage Company and Pete and Gerd Jordano.

“It’s even better than our 28-point win over Azusa Pacific,” said associate athletic director and head women’s basketball coach Kirsten McKnight in welcoming the 125 attendees.

Westmont athletic director Dave Wolf served as master of ceremonies for the event and noted that the Westmont staff of head coaches tallied a combined 114 years of experience and that for seven of the coaches, their entire head coaching experience has been at Westmont.

Westmont Baseball (8-26, 4-24) lost both games of a doubleheader to Point Loma Nazarene (22-8, 15-13 GSAC) on Saturday, dropping the first game by a score of 5-1 and the second by a 10-4 margin.

In the first game, Eric Gaustad (2-5) went the distance for the Warriors in the loss. In nine innings on the mound, he gave up four earned runs on nine hits, striking out five and walking two. Point Loma’s Andrew Bovich (6-3) earned a complete game win, allowing one run on six hits, striking out three and walking two.

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Tenth-inning RBI singles by freshman catcher Kyle Noe and freshman center fielder Taylor Maddox earned Westmont (8-24, 4-22 GSAC) an 8-6 win over The Master’s (25-13-1, 13-13) in Santa Clarita. The Warriors split the season series against the Mustangs with each team winning two games on the opponent’s home field.

Senior starter Jonathan White pitched seven and one-third innings for the Warriors but did not figure in the decision. White gave up six runs, three of which were earned, on ten hits. He walked two and struck out four. Freshman reliever Keith Johnson earned the win, improving his record to 2-2. Johnson pitched two and two-third scoreless innings, giving up two hits. He walked two and struck out two. Brian Reiner (2-2) took the loss for the Mustangs after pitching two innings in relief.

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Westmont Baseball came up short against The Master’s (25-12-1, 13-12) at Russ Carr Field on Wednesday afternoon in a game which featured 26 runs, 25 hits and 10 errors, 54 base runners and 22 men left on base. Four home runs by the Mustangs - including a grand slam by catcher Tyler Diamond and a three-run inside the park home run by second baseman Joseph Chavarria - led to a 17-9 Warrior loss. Diamond added a solo shot in the ninth inning and designated hitter Caleb Mintz recorded a home run in the fourth.

Tied at two runs each going into the bottom of the fourth, Westmont (7-24, 3-22) scored three unearned runs to take a 5-2 lead. But the advantaged was short lived as Westmont gave up six runs in the top of the fifth, including Chavarria’s round-tripper, to go up 8-5.

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It wasn’t the result for which Westmont had hoped. The Warrior pitching staff surrendered 24 hits as #21 Biola (20-9, 11-7 GSAC) defeated Westmont (7-16, 3-14 GSAC) by a score of 22-5 at Russ Carr Field on Thursday afternoon. Four fielding errors also led to the Warriors’ demise.

The Eagles scored two runs in the top of the first inning, but Westmont answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the opening frame. Biola’s runs were scored on an RBI triple by second baseman Hawkins Gebbers and a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Kris Cook.

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Seven Warrior pitchers combined to hold the UC Santa Barbara (15-7) to six runs on five hits on Tuesday at Caesar Uyesaka but Westmont (7-15) lost to the Gauchos by a score of 6-3. Senior Jonathan White started for the Warriors, giving up one run on one hit in two innings of work. White (0-3), who was charged with the loss, struck out two and allowed one walk. The Gauchos’ Michael Martin (2-0) picked up the win.

The Gauchos scored a single run in the first inning off an RBI double by junior first baseman Eric Oliver. Oliver would also figure into the Gauchos’ run in the sixth inning, scoring from third on a sacrifice fly to left by junior shortstop Shane Carlson.

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