Sophomore Mark Burleson (Ladera Ranch, Calif. / Tesoro) cranked a third-inning home run, his first of the year, in Caltech’s 9-6 home victory over Southern Vermont College on Monday. The three-run shot sailed over the left field fence on a deep fly ball and represented the Beavers’ third team home run of the season, tying […]
Sophomore Mark Burleson (Ladera Ranch, Calif. / Tesoro) cranked a third-inning home run, his first of the year, in Caltech’s 9-6 home victory over Southern Vermont College on Monday. The three-run shot sailed over the left field fence on a deep fly ball and represented the Beavers’ third team home run of the season, tying last year’s total with more than half the season left to play.
Burleson, who leads the team with 15 RBIs, went 2-for-5 at the dish, stole his second base of the season and also scored three runs. His home run, however did not put the Beavers up for good. While the home run put the Beavers up, 3-1, at the time, sophomore starter Jonah Krop (Santa Monica, Calif. / Santa Monica) gave back two runs in the fourth inning. His clean innings were short and concise, however and finished the game with four strikouts in 5 and one-third innings of work. Regular third starter Cortland Perry (New York, N.Y. / The Dalton School) came in from second base to relieve Krop, but gave up a three-run home run to Mountaineers outfielder Zack Stacey, the very first batter he faced. He settled down afterwards however, and pitched out the victory with three clean final innings. He also struck out two batters and picked up his first win of the season.
After putting Perry in a position to earn the win with a big sixth inning, the Beavers gained some insurance in the seventh and eighth innings when Burleson and senior outfielder Kai Kirk (San Jose, Calif. / St. Paul’s (Wesleyan Univ.)) came around home plate. The error count made a big difference in the outcome as the Mountaineers had three errors to the Beavers’ one in spite of outhitting the hosts. Caltech’s big sixth inning came as a result of walks, hit batters and a big error that saw freshman outfielder Minjae Kim (Busan, South Korea / West Vancouver Secondary School) reach base on a throwing error from the catcher while junior Garrett Levine (Columbus, Ohio / Columbus Academy) scored from second base. Senior Schaeffer Reed (Miami, Fla. / Westminster Christian) also played an important role for the Beavers at the plate, collecting two hits and one RBI.
Head Coach Matthew Mark and the Beavers will return to the diamond this weekend when they host Bard College from Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. for three games over two days.
