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LOS ANGELES — Antonio Andrade continued to crush the ball as the Occidental baseball team won its SCIAC opener 5-4 at Anderson Field on Friday afternoon.

Andrade, a junior outfielder from Santa Barbara, went 3 for 4 at the plate, including a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and a double in the fifth. He was just a triple away from hitting for the cycle.

Andrade has been Oxy's best hitter so far this season, leading the Tigers in home runs (4), doubles (6), batting average (.371), on base percentage (.472), slugging percentage (.778) and RBIs (11).

Michael Netzel capped a four-run Oxy first with a two-run double and later Preston Chong hit his third home run of the year to put Oxy up 5-2 in the seventh.

Oxy starter Nolan McCarthy went eight innings in the victory, holding the Poets to two runs until they added two more to bring the game within one run in the eighth.

Devon Suske came on and pitched the ninth to earn the save and shut the door on Whittier.

Netzel and Caleb Reyes each went 2 for 3 for Oxy.

Cody Brown was charged with the loss for Whittier after failing to get out of the first inning.

Dane Goodman went 2 for 4 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored for the Poets.

Season Impact: Oxy improves to 6-6 overall and 1-0 in SCIAC. The Tigers are in first place as the last unbeaten team in SCIAC play.

Whittier falls to 3-10 and 0-5.

Next Game: Oxy and Whittier play a doubleheader at Whittier on Saturday, beginning at 11 a.m.