Box Score Middlebury needed extra innings for the second-straight day, plating a pair of runs in the 10th for a 6-4 win over Whittier (15-10). The Panthers (3-7) return to action on Tuesday with a contest at Caltech.
Middlebury went on top in the fourth when Hayden Smith singled to left field, stole second and moved to third when Justin Han reached on a fielder's choice. The duo then pulled off a double steal, as Smith gave his team a 1-0 lead.
The following inning, the Panthers scored three runs on four hits for a 4-0 advantage. Phil Bernstein got things going with a single to center, followed by a base hit to left from Drew Coash. Two batters later, Smith singled up the middle to drive in Bernstein and Henry Strmecki, who reached on a fielder's choice.
Whitter answered in the fifth with a two-run homer by John Vuz, making it a 4-2 game.
The Poets made it a one-run game in the sixth when Dmitri Washington singled to right center to plate Jarryd Samsing, who led off with a base hit.
The game was knotted at 4-4 in the eighth after Daniel Tuerffs singled to left center, driving in Chris Howe. Neither team scored in the ninth, forcing extra innings.
Middlebury's Brooks Carroll put his team up 5-4 by leading off the top of the 10th with a solo shot. Han was hit by a pitch and stole second before scoring on a fielder's choice and the aid of an error. The Poets had no answer in the bottom of the inning as Middlebury picked up the 6-4 victory.
Jack Miller (1-0) picked up his first career win, allowing one run and four hits over three innings of relief work. George Goldstein recorded the initial save of his career, pitching a scoreless 10th inning. Evan Stewart got the start on the mound, allowing two runs and five hits with four strikeouts over 4.2 innings of work.
Smith went 3-5 in the game with two runs scored and two RBI, while six other players had hits, including a double from Han.
Dante Mancia suffered the loss for Whittier, giving up one run and three hits over 4.1 innings with four strikeouts. Eleven players earned the Poets' 12 hits, with Brandon Mulrooney going 2-2.
