Doherty Does it All in Tigers’ Walk-Off Winner
Kieran Doherty (left) celebrates with Alex Bukac after he crossed the plate with the game-winning run on a hit by Daniel Kelley (Photo: Tracy Maple).
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (April 24, 2009) – It was a tied game in the bottom of the ninth inning with the bases loaded and two outs when sophomore Daniel Kelley stepped up to the plate. The ball he hit found its way past the diving Poets shortstop to score pinch runner Alex Bukac to seal a Tigers 7-6 come-from-behind win today over Whittier College on Anderson Field.
Trailing 6-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, Doherty (2-0), who moved from first base to the mound, recording the final out in the top of the inning, connected for a solo homerun to right field, pulling the Tigers within a run.
Left fielder Steve Schaffer singled with one out and advanced to second when Anthony Salsedo was tagged out in a rundown between third and home. Senior Richie Veihl then doubled down the left field line, plating Schaffer to knot things at 6-6.
Whittier (11-24, 5-11 SCIAC) took out starting pitcher Justin Armijo (2-6) with two outs in the ninth and Nick Saraceni proceeded to draw a walk before freshman Kevin Ozaki beat out an infield single to deep short, loading the bags for Kelley.
Starting pitcher Matthew Jones got a no-decision after throwing 4.1 scoreless innings before the Poets connected for four consecutive hits knocking the senior righty out of the game after striking out a pair. Ross Pomerantz also went 4.1 in relief, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits while also striking out a pair. After the Poets built a two-run ninth inning lead, Doherty took the hill with two outs and runners on second and third, ending the inning with a groundball to shortstop Jason Jebbia.
Occidental collected 13 hits and every starter reached base at least once. Doherty led the way going 3-for-4, coming up a triple shy of the cycle. Schaffer, Veihl and Ozaki finished with two-hits apiece. Jebbia led off the fourth inning with a homerun.
The Poets recorded 10 hits with two apiece from Reed Tuttle and Anthony Cappelletti while third baseman Mike Benavente led off the ninth with an opposite field solo homerun.
The two teams will finish their season series tomorrow at Memorial Field on the campus of Whittier College. First pitch of game one is slated for 11:00 a.m.
