Photo by samsphotoservices.com

CLAREMONT — Reid Gibbs and the Occidental baseball team pulled off a big comeback in a 9-8 win at Pomona-Pitzer on Friday.

In the first game of a three-game series with the Sagehens this weekend, the Tigers trailed 6-1 before rallying for eight runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 9-6 lead.

Gibbs, Oxy's shortstop who finished the day 3 for 3, had a pair of RBI-doubles in the inning, bringing in its first and last run.

The floodgates opened after that his first double.

Bryan Smith drove in a pair of run with a two-run double to center, Graham Pimm singled in a run and the Tigers scored three more on an error before Gibbs capped the rally and his day with his second double.

Devon DeRaad finished the day 2 for 3 with an RBI-double, bringing in Oxy's only other run in the first.

Oxy starter Nolan Watson pitched five innings before getting into some trouble in the sixth. After checking out of the game, the Sagehens hit two homers and posted five runs in the inning.

Michael Netzel came on the close the door for the Tigers, striking out five in 2.2 innings for his fifth save of the year.

Season Impact: The Tigers improve to 22-12 overall and move into a tie for second place at 13-6 in SCIAC. 

With five games to play in the SCIAC regular season, Oxy is one game back of first-place Cal Lutheran (14-5) and two games ahead of fifth-place Redlands (13-8).

The Tigers are in the hunt for both a regular season SCIAC Championship and a four-team SCIAC Playoff spot.

Next Game: The Tigers and the Sagehens play a doubleheader at Oxy's Anderson Field on Saturday. First pitch of Game 1 is scheduled for 11 a.m.