Tigers Handle # 21 Ithaca
Seth Goss dives safely into third base during the eighth inning. (Photo: Tracy Maple)
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 11, 2008) – Teamwork, confidence and the will to win came into play today as the Tigers of Occidental College defeated # 21 Ithaca College 14-10 on Anderson Field today. The teams combined for 24 runs on 29 hits in a battle of the bats.
Oxy jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead as Seth Goss singled to lead it off followed by a successful hit-and-run by shortstop Case Miyahira. Oxy added a pair more but quickly saw that lead turn into a deficit as the Bombers tagged Tigers starter Noel Banuelos for six second inning runs.
With runners at first and second with one out in the fourth Jason Jebbia made a diving stop and flipped it to Miyahira at second for a force out, saving a run. With runners on the corners Suzuki forced a ground ball to second where Jebbia again flipped the ball to Miyahira for the final out of the inning.
Occidental’s defense continued to shine in the top of the fourth when Andersen used his speed in the outfield to track down a fly ball, ending the inning with a diving catch in shallow centerfield to cap off a 1-2-3 inning by freshman Kris Suzuki.
The Bombers added to their lead in the sixth with a two RBI single to right by shortstop Josh Smith adding to the lead.
Trailing by four the Tigers pushed three runs across in the bottom part of the inning. Jebbia led off with a double off the centerfield wall and Sarkissian hooked a ball just inside third base down the left field line, scoring Glenn Gray who reached on a single. Jebbia and Goss, who was hit by a pitch, both scored as well pulling the score to 9-8.
Ithaca added a run in the seventh and threatened for more, but Miyahira made another spectacular play at short to end the inning, catching a line-drive doubling up the runner at first base.
Occidental continued to claw back, scoring a pair in the bottom of the eighth to knot the game at 10-10. They then batted around in the eighth. Again Sarkissian led off with a double down the line, almost identical to the first. Veihl drove him in with a bases loaded single to keep the bags full of Tigers. Goss then connected for a bases clearing triple to center to give the Tigers a 14-10 advantage going into the ninth.
Kieran Doherty closed out the game to record his first collegiate victory as a Tiger. He struck out two and scattered three hits, allowing no runs in 2.2 innings of work. Suzuki went 3.0 and fellow freshman John Clair threw 1.1 innings, striking out three.
Goss finished the game 3-4 with four RBIs and three runs. Sarkissian finished 3-5 with two RBIs and a run. Andersen, Jebbia and Adam Franks each collected two hits today. Gray drove in three and scored twice for Oxy.
Occidental was aggressive and effective on the base paths today. Goss stole second twice while Jebbia, Andersen, Ball and Richie Veihl each swiped a bag as well.
The Tigers (6-9) defeated a nationally ranked team for the second time this season. Oxy beat Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foe # 18 Redlands earlier this year.
Ithaca starter Nick Sottung threw 5.2 innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits while striking out five. He hit four men and issued one walk.
Beginning on Friday the Tigers will host the California Classic along with the other SCIAC schools. Oxy will play a pair against Wesleyan on Friday beginning at 11:00 a.m.
