AZUSA, Calif. – Claremont-Mudd-Scripps outslugged visiting Whitworth 15-10 in the first game of a non-conference Division III baseball series on Friday on the campus of Azusa Pacific University.
The 13th-ranked Stags improved to 7-3 while the Pirates dropped to 6-9.
Kyle Memarian and Junior Garcia both hit home runs and finished with three hits apiece for Whitworth. But it wasn't enough to overcome five home runs and 16 total hits by CMS.
Things looked good early when Whitworth scored three runs in the top of the first against CMS ace Kody Perry, who came into the game 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA. Carson Coffield had a two-run single in the rally. But Dillon Martin answered with a grand slam in the bottom of the first and Carter Bennett followed with a solo shot and .
Memarian's two-run home run pulled the Pirates within 6-5 in the second, but the Stags got four more in the bottom of the second, including a three-run home run by Max Pemberton.
Garcia's two-run homer run pulled Whitworth within 10-7 in the third. After holding CMS scoreless in the bottom of the third and the bottom of the fourth, the Pirates were able to load the bases with one out in the fifth. After a strikeout of Nate Gray Jr., Memarian's hard shot to center field went right into the glove of Blaise Heher.
Martin's second home run of the game, a three-run drive, increased the lead to 13-7 in the fifth and Herer added a solo shot in the sixth for a 14-7 margin.
Garcia added his third RBI of the game in the seventh.
Dillon Hartman (1-1) started for Whitworth and allowed six runs on five hits and three walks in one inning. AJ Woodward followed and gave up seven runs (five earned) on six hits and a hit batter in 3.2 frames. Zach Wright, Jared Hardie and Tyler Odegaard finished up with an inning each.
Perry did not factor into the decision for CMS after allowing seven runs (six earned) in 3.0 innings. Parker McGraw (1-0) got the win after throwing 4.0 innings of relief and allowing one run on four hits.
The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 11:00 am. They finish with a single game on Sunday, also at 11:00 am.
