Brancheau, Tigers Sweep Stags

More news about: Occidental

LOS ANGELES — Jack Brancheau hit a two-run walk-off home run and the Occidental baseball team finished another late-game comeback, beating CMS 9-7 in 11 innings Saturday afternoon. 

The win extends the Tigers' win streak to seven games and gives them their second straight series sweep after outscoring Caltech 39-6 in their series against the Beavers a week ago.

Season Impact: Oxy improves to 9-4 overall and 7-2 in SCIAC play.

CMS falls to 3-11 and 2-7.

With two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning and Charlie Caccamo at first base, Brancheau caught hold of his pitch and sent it just over the outstretched glove of the Stags' leaping center fielder.

"I'm very excited," said Brancheau. I'm thankful for my teammates, they're awesome guys. We just trusted the process and got the sweep."

With the Tigers down 7-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Jamie Cooper kept the Tigers alive, hitting a three-run home run to left center that scored Brancheau and Eamon McNeil, cutting the Stags' lead to 7-5.

The Tigers got some luck later in the inning when Graham Pimm scored on a throwing error to put Oxy within one. Caccamo tied it all up two batters later on a sacrifice fly to center that brought home Reid Gibbs

Josh Cohen was clutch for the Tigers in 3.1 innings of work to get the win. Cohen came in with one out in the top of the eighth and struck out six down the stretch to give Oxy the chance for a comeback.

After a sloppy first inning that put the Tigers in a 2-0 hole, Oxy bounced back and tied the game in the second inning when Gibbs singled to bring in McNeil followed by a Bryan Smith single that scored Cooper to tie the game at two all.

Scott Ericksen pitched 6.2 innings for the Tigers recording four strikeouts with two earned runs in his start.

Game 2: Occidental 5, CMS 2

DeRaad hit an absolute bomb in the bottom of the seventh off a 2-0 pitch that nearly cleared the Tigers' clubhouse in center field. The solo shot extended Oxy's lead to 5-2. DeRaad is leading the SCIAC with three home runs.

Will Martel had a solid start for the Tigers allowing just one earned run and five hits in eight innings pitched for the win.

McNeil got the Tigers off to a quick start, doubling to right center with the bases loaded to score DeRaad, Brancheau, and Walker Marks in the bottom of the first. McNeil finished off the inning, scoring from second base after a throwing error by the Stags to put the Tigers up 4-0.

Riley James pitched the final inning for the Tigers and struck out one.

Nolan Anderson hit a solo home run for CMS in the second. MacKenzie Menthen took the loss for the Stags.

Game 1: Occidental 6, CMS 4; RecapBox Score

Next Game:  The Tigers travel to Whittier next Friday for a 2:30 p.m. game against the Poets. 

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