Sagehen Baseball Falls to Kean University
By Joe Gill
Staff Writer

In their first home loss of the year, the Pomona-Pitzer baseball team fell to visiting Kean University 3-1 on Tuesday. During last weekend's three game series against La Verne, however, the Sagehens swept the Leopards for the second straight season 10-8, 11-6, and 16-3. This put Pomona-Pitzer at 4-2 in SCIAC, with an 8-3 overall record for the season.

With the top Sagehen pitchers resting for upcoming league play, Pomona-Pitzer utilized an unusual lineup in the Kean game. Slugger Jase Turner '05 played at third base instead of the usual first, while pitcher Sean Gilbert '03 actually took some swings at home plate. Kean freshman Kevin Wright paid no attention, and took starting Sagehen pitcher Jonas Sawyer '04 deep for a solo home run in the second inning. After neither team scored any more runs in their next two at bats, the Cougars led 1-0.

Pomona-Pitzer attempted to rally in the bottom of the third. Putting together a few hits, the Sagehens loaded the bases with two outs. With Turner up to bat, the crowd anticipated some critical RBI's. Turner was unable to send any runners home, however, striking out to end the inning.

In the top of the fourth, the Sagehens got three outs in three at bats to quickly send Pomona-Pitzer back up to the plate. In response, the Cougars' strong pitching put the Sagehen's defense back on the field in just as much time.

Reliever Nathaniel Miller '05 took over in the top of the fifth inning. After beaning Cougar Anthony Puzzo and advancing him to first base, Miller worked Kean shortstop Mike O'Donnell to a full count. O'Donnell came through with a single up the middle, putting runners on first and third. Cougar Michael Davis then hit a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring a run and increasing their lead to 2-0.

Pomona-Pitzer continued to struggle in the bottom half of the fifth, giving up two outs before Jose Cortez '03 knocked a line drive single to center. Cortez was then stranded as Kean ended the inning on a pop out.

The Sagehens showed they were not done with some defensive fireworks in the sixth. After a Kean runner reached second base on a sacrifice bunt, Turner showed his capability as a third baseman. With two outs, Turner denied a would-be Cougar run on an incredible leaping catch to end the inning. Regrettably, Pomona-Pitzer could not transfer this momentum to the offensive side, going down in order to bring up the top of the seventh inning.

Left-hander Kevin Cook '06 came in for Miller in the seventh. With two outs and a man on third, Davis earned his second RBI of the day with a single to left, making the score 3-0 in favor of Kean. After a groundout to end the inning, for the next two batting opportunities both teams failed to get runners on base.

In the bottom of the eighth inning the Sagehens finally managed to spark a rally. With no outs, shortstop Sam Whitehead '05 hit a hard ground ball up the middle. After the Cougar shortstop botched the fielding play, he overthrew first base, allowing Whitehead to advance to second. Whitehead continued his base running by reaching third base on a wild pitch, and then scoring on a sacrifice fly ball to right field. Following a strikeout to end the inning, the Sagehens had brought the game within two runs with a score of 3-1.

This was the last time Pomona-Pitzer would score. Even with Joel Berning '06 providing perfect relief in the top of the ninth, the Sagehens could not create a ninth inning rally.

Despite the home loss, the team is not worried, having taken three league games from La Verne last Friday and Saturday. In the first game, the Sagehens combined for four home runs. Cortez claimed two on the day, one of which almost cleared the KSPC radio tower past the right field fence. Rob Ruiz '03 and Turner delivered the other two blasts, while Adam Gardner '04 got the win at home in the darkness-shortened game.

The next day the Sagehens traveled across town to Ben Hines field for a doubleheader. After tying the game in the ninth inning, Pomona-Pitzer erupted in the twelfth for five runs. Alex Smith '03 pitched five innings for the win. In the second game, the Sagehens dominated the Leopards from the start, leading 8-0 after only three innings. Turner had three doubles while Matt Levinson '03 and Cortez each had home runs. Mike Renery '03 pitched for the win, carding ten strikeouts on the day.

With a winning conference record, the Sagehens face Cal Lutheran at home today at 2:30 p.m., then travel to Thousand Oaks on Saturday for a double-header.