PASADENA, Calif. (Feb. 4, 2022) – For the first time in 692 days, Caltech Baseball was back in action at home, playing host to neighboring Providence Christian College in the first of a two-day, three-game series.  

Starting pitcher Ryan Ruscansky (Annandale, N.J. / North Hunterdon) earned the Opening Day start and kept composed after the Sea Beggars threatened in the first inning with a pair of hits. He went on to allow just four hits, striking out three batters in a seven-inning, complete game shutout.  

The Beavers set the tone for the rest of the afternoon in their first at-bat, as Will Dembski (Pella, Iowa / Pella Christian) belted a leadoff home run to center field. Two batters later, Jack Warren (Foster City, Calif. / San Mateo) lifted another solo shot well beyond the left field wall to make it 2-0.  

Caltech finally chased the Providence starter in the bottom of the fifth inning, after Kyle Reese (Sammamish, Wash. / Skyline) knocked an RBI single into center to drive home Dawson Beutler (Omaha, Neb. / Millard West). With the bases still loaded and a reliever for the Sea Beggars on the hill, Leo Jenkins (New York, N.Y. / Beacon) crushed a ball out to left center for a grand slam, scoring Reese, Jack Fishel (Baltimore, Md. / Boys' Latin School of Maryland), and Garrett Knuf (Laguna Niguel, Calif. / Dana Hills). 

But the Beavers were not done yet. Cameron McNamee followed up those fireworks with a single to right, and then ran to second on a wild pitch. Dembski then drew a walk in his second plate appearance of the inning, and Beutler launched a three-run dinger to left. The eight-run inning gave Caltech an untouchable 13-0 lead, good enough for an eventual seven-inning win by the 10-run rule. 

Head Coach Kevin Whitehead and the Beavers host the Sea Beggars again tomorrow in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.