LOS ANGELES — Bryan Smith got three big hits late in the game, including the walk-off single, as the Occidental baseball team beat Whittier 3-2 in Game 1 of a doubleheader at Anderson Field on Saturday.

Smith, who played right field, was 3 for 5 with a run scored and the biggest RBI of the game in the bottom of the ninth, lining a single to shallow center field that brought home Antonio Andrade to win the game.

Andrade finished the day 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run sccored. 

Brandon Mulrooney looked like he might have a play on the ball Smith hit, but he would have had to make a diving catch and little chance of making a throw to the plate on the tag up with the bases loaded. 

After falling behind 2-0, it felt like only a matter of time before Oxy's offense broke through. The Tigers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh with Andrade getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in a run and Gus Patrick singling in Smith.

Oxy totaled 11 hits as a team.

Tigers second baseman Reid Gibbs upped his hitting streak to eight games.

Oxy's pitchers continue to pitch very well. Will Martel gave up one run in the top of the first and then settled in nicely to go six innings without too many threatening opportunities. He allowed just three hits and two walks in the start.

Tom Butler came on for the final three innings to earn the victory. He was mostly nails, but gave up one unearned run on his own fielding error on a throw to first base.

Season Impact: The Tigers improve to 11-2 on the season and 2-0 in SCIAC play.

Whittier falls to 3-6 overall and 2-3 in SCIAC.

Next Game: Oxy is back in action for the second game of its doubleheader and third game of the series against Whittier at 2:05 pm on Saturday.