CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Linfield baseball team had two big innings at the plate, but it wasn't enough to top Pomona-Pitzer in an 11-6 loss to the Sagehens Friday afternoon at Alumni Field.
Pomona-Pitzer jumped on Linfield starter
Andrew Del Biaggio early with four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Caleb Millikan opened the scoring with an RBI single up the middle to bring in Kevin Lo. Millikan came around and scored on a sacrifice fly by Isaac Kim. A Ryan Nishi RBI double to right-center and a Jack Damelio double through the left side ended the hot start for the Sagehens.
The Wildcats answered the call in the top half of the second with three runs of their own. Sophomore right fielder
Daniel Kahn drew a bases-loaded walk to score freshman catcher
Nathan Kassler. The next batter up, senior shortstop
Tanner Jacques, singled to center to drive in senior first baseman
Branden Pasion and junior center fielder
Garrett Moen.
The Sagehens got a pair of runs back in the bottom half of the frame when JC Ng ripped a two-run single up the middle to cash in Millikan and Lo. The 'Cats responded again with three runs in the third to tie the game at 6-6. They got a solo home run by sophomore left fielder
Bodey Smith and a two-run shot to right by Kassler.
Pomona-Pitzer held Linfield scoreless the rest of the way, taking the lead in the fifth with three runs before tacking on one more run in each of the sixth and seventh frames.
Jacques went 2 for 5 with two RBI while Kassler went 2 for 3 with two runs and his homer. Smith's long ball was the second of his collegiate career. A junior, Del Biaggio went 2.2 innings before handing the ball to sophomore
Jarrett Allen. Del Biaggio allowed six runs, four earned, on six hits to go with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore
Gage Mack took the loss after allowing four earned runs on six hits in three innings pitched.
Ng, Nishi and Damelio all picked up three hits in the win while Lo had two. Despite two big offensive innings for the 'Cats, Pomona-Pitzer starter Harry Deliyannis tossed six innings to improve to 2-0 on the season. He allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits with seven strikeouts. Jake Albro went the rest of the way, earning the save after going three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits while fanning four Linfield batters.
NEXT
The 'Cats (2-2) fall back to .500 with the loss. The two teams will meet again on Saturday with first pitch set for 1 p.m. in Claremont. Sunday's series finale will start at noon.
