02/24/2025 Columbia, MO- Over the weekend of February 23-24, 2025, Westminster College's baseball team swept Loras College in a three-game series. The Blue Jays showcased both offensive power and pitching depth as they secured victories of 7-2, 6-5, and 9-8. From timely hitting and home runs to solid relief pitching, Westminster demonstrated resilience and determination throughout the series. The Blue Jays' offense was led by standout performances from Troy Romero, Keli'i Price, and Caleb Warren, while the pitching staff, including Derek Archer and Blake Althuisius, kept Loras in check. Westminster finished the series with a perfect 3-0 record, signaling a promising start to the season.
Game 1 Recap: Westminster 7, Loras 2
Westminster College's baseball team opened their series against Loras with a commanding 7-2 victory on February 23, 2025. Loras initially took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but Westminster quickly responded in the bottom of the frame with two runs to take a 2-1 advantage. Caleb Warren and Aden Pecka led the charge with home runs, providing the early spark for the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays' offense remained productive, adding four more runs in the sixth inning. Key contributions came from Troy Romero, Keli'i Price, and Caleb Warren, who all drove in important runs. The defense was solid, and the pitching staff kept Loras in check throughout the game. Derek Archer earned the win after throwing eight strong innings, allowing only two runs and striking out four. Kaleb Hinkle-Pruett pitched a scoreless ninth inning to close out the game. Westminster's dominant performance set the tone for the series, with the Blue Jays improving to 1-0 on the season.
Game 2 Recap: Westminster 6, Loras 5
The second game of the series was a nail-biter, with Westminster emerging victorious 6-5 after a back-and-forth battle. Loras jumped to an early 5-3 lead in the first inning, but Westminster quickly closed the gap. The Blue Jays scored two runs in the fourth inning to tie the game, with key hits from Troy Romero and Domenic Nordmann.
Westminster's offense was led by Keli'i Price, who drove in an RBI, and Romero, who continued to be a key contributor at the plate. After a crucial RBI from Andrew Kuehn in the seventh inning, the Blue Jays took a 6-5 lead. The pitching staff, including Brayden Knittel, Salvador Moncada, and Blake Althuisius, delivered solid relief work to keep Loras from scoring again. Althuisius (1-0) picked up the win after 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Romero and Price both had three hits, with Price adding an RBI to his total. Westminster's defense tightened up in the late innings, limiting Loras' scoring chances. The Blue Jays secured the 6-5 win and improved to 2-0 on the season.
Game 3 Recap: Westminster 9, Loras 8
In a thrilling conclusion to the series, Westminster won 9-8 in a hard-fought game that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Loras quickly grabbed a 5-3 lead in the first inning, taking advantage of early mistakes and a few key hits. However, the Blue Jays responded, chipping away at the lead and scoring one run each in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings to take a 9-7 lead.
Troy Romero was the standout offensively, hitting a triple and driving in an RBI. Domenic Nordmann, Brett Cira, and Aden Pecka all came through with timely hits, providing critical runs for the Blue Jays. Loras made a final push in the ninth, scoring one run, but Westminster's bullpen held firm to secure the win.
Blake Althuisius (1-0) earned the victory after pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless relief, with Dawson Willard and Salvador Moncada also delivering solid performances in key moments. Romero finished with three hits and one RBI, and Keli'i Price added a home run to contribute to the Blue Jays' offensive explosion. Westminster completed the 9-8 win, sweeping the series and improving to 3-0 on the season. The Blue Jays showed resilience throughout the game, overcoming an early deficit to clinch the victory and complete the sweep of Loras.