PASADENA, Calif. — The Caltech baseball team kicked off conference play on Friday as the Beavers faced Occidental College for an afternoon clash at North Field.

The contest began with first-year Joseph Pieper (Palatine, Ill. / Palatine) on the mound in what proved to be a superb performance. The pitcher made quick work of the Oxy offense in the first inning, facing just four batters after walking one and forcing three into put-outs.

First-year left fielder Kailen Hargenrader (Bethesda, Md. / The Maret School) led off for Caltech in the bottom of the first as he connected on a ball to left field. The rookie stole second base before stealing third, though was not brought home as the inning concluded.

Pieper continued to make quick work of the Tigers in the second and third frames as the talented hurler posted back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, throwing just seven pitches in the second.

Caltech broke the scoreless tie in the third inning, electrifying the dugout and home fans. A leadoff single to right field from junior catcher Edward Speer (Austin, Texas / Leander) put the eventual-scoring runner on base; Speer stole second base two at-bats later to get into scoring position. A single through the left side from junior second baseman Garrett Knuf (Laguna Niguel, Calif. / Dana Hills) advanced Speer to third before the catcher crossed home on an RBI sacrifice fly by junior center fielder Jack Fishel (Baltimore, Md. / Boys' Latin School of Maryland).

Oxy answered with some offense of their own the next time up at bat, scoring a runner who reached on an error to make it a 1-1 game. The guests earned their second run one inning later on a runner who advanced into scoring position on an error; neither scoring run was earned.

It was a pitching and defensive battle for the remainder of the game with several of the half-innings seeing just three or four at-bats. The Beavers earned runners on second and third in the bottom of the ninth, though were unable to bring one home as the game concluded.

Despite the result, Pieper logged an excellent statline as he let up just two hits and no earned runs across 31 batters faced and 8.0 innings pitched.

Caltech notched seven hits to Occidental's three.

The two teams will return to action in Los Angeles as the Beavers head to Occidental for a Saturday doubleheader this Saturday, Mar. 2. Game 1 begins at 11 a.m. Follow the action online at gocaltech.com/coverage.

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