LOS ANGELES — The Occidental College baseball added another close finish to a season that's been filled with ninth-inning comebacks and star outfielder Devon DeRaad added two more homers to his incredibly productive season.

With runners on first and second, Tigers' third baseman A.J. Libunao laid a bunt down the third base line. Whittier reliever Ben Cerami scooped up the ball and tossed it over the Poet third baseman's head allowing Victor Munoz to round third and score easily, giving the Tigers a 7-6 win.

The Tigers improve to 14-7 overall and 10-3 in SCIAC play. Whittier drops to 3-18 and 1-9.

DeRaad was explosive for the Tigers. He homered over the left field wall in his first at bat, followed it up with a bomb to right field in the fifth, and then capped off his day with a double that hit the center field wall. DeRaad finished the day 3 for 5 with four RBIs and two runs scored.

"It wasn't our best, but I'm proud of our guys and we'll improve tomorrow," DeRaad said about his team's performance. "It's a testament to our guys and our resilience. Across the board we are a top team and we're going to fight until the last out."

The sophomore's 10 home runs lead the SCIAC, four ahead of the closest player.

The Poets showed off some power of their own in the top of the second when Max Bradshaw homered to left field to tie the game at 2-2. The Poets took the lead in a big third inning, scoring three runs off a Ben Cerami double to center field to pull ahead of the Tigers by 5-2.

Oxy responded in the fifth with DeRaad's homer and a Jake Chambers RBI single.

Charlie Caccamo and Munoz each had big days. Caccamo went 2 for 3 with two runs scored and Munoz went 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Brady Fuller added an RBI in the eighth on an infield grounder that scored Walker Marks.

Scott Ericksen pitched an inning of relief for the Tigers, facing three batters, and struck out one for the win. Cerami recorded the loss for Whittier.

Joseph Kling got the the start on the mound and struck out seven in 5.2 innings of work. Will Nahmens stuck out two in 2.1 innings.

Next Game: The Tigers finish their series with the Poets tomorrow at Whittier. First pitch is at 11 a.m.