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Box Score 2 SANTA BARBARA, CALIF. – The Embry-Riddle baseball team lost its final two games at No. 13 Westmont on Saturday, as the Eagles nearly avoided the sweep in the first game before another bad second inning led to a loss.
Game 1: #13 Westmont 4, Embry-Riddle 3
The first game of the day was a lot better for the Eagles than Friday, as the Eagles stayed close with the Warriors. For the second consecutive contest, ERAU was the team to score first, as Roberto Garza-Nunez doubled to left center to bring home Gavin Botts.
Westmont answered right back in the bottom of the first, as they took the lead on a three-run home run with no outs. After that moment, Eagles starter Eric Schumann was excellent, allowing just one run and five hits in the 5.1 innings of work
Embry-Riddle slowly worked its way back to a tied contest, as the Eagles scored one in the third and one in the sixth. Travis Strickler hit a solo home run in the third inning, then Strickler came around to score again in the fifth on a fielder's choice.
The bottom of the sixth saw Westmont take the lead again, as Shane Hofstadler hit a solo home run to give the Warriors a 4-3 lead. Following the go-ahead home run, Cole Altherr came in and pitched a perfect 2.2 innings in relief.
The Eagles out-hit Westmont, and a pair of players each had three hits. Stickler and Roberto Garza-Nunez racked up the trio of hits each, and both also drove in a run.
Game 2: #13 Westmont 10, Embry-Riddle 3
For the third time in a loss this season, a disastrous second inning put the Eagles way behind early. After a scoreless first inning from both sides, the Warriors scored nine times in the second frame. While ERAU gave up just one more run the rest of the way, the early hole was too much to overcome.
Five different Eagles had hits in the series finale, none bigger than Blake Moore's two-RBI double in the fourth inning. Strickler, Garza-Nunez, Jepsen and Owen Cain each added a single in the last game on Saturday.
Alec Hagopian had a pair of scoreless innings, striking out a pair without allowing a hit. Noah Tschopp had three strikeouts in 1.2 innings of relief, and allowed just one hit.
Embry-Riddle will head back to Southern California next week as they have yet another four-game series with a ranked GSAC team. The Eagles will take on 10th-ranked Hope International in Fullerton, with the first two games of the series set for Friday, February 10.
