REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands baseball team (1-0) won their 2024 season opener against McMurry University, 9-2, on Friday afternoon at The Yard. Starter Tyler Reiter went five and got the win while Jakob Russell got a rare four-inning save.
After allowing the opening run to the War Hawks in the top of the second, Will Daniels doubled down the line and scored Tyler Preece to tie the game. Kaiya Saito then gave the Bulldogs the lead with a sacrifice fly to right field as Daniels was able to score.
McMurry tied the game at two in the top of third on a single, but the Bulldogs started the bottom half of the inning with a double from Sebastian Mejorado and then Gabriel Ceja walked which forced the first pitching change of the game.
Preece was then hit by a pitch by the new pitcher before Mejorado scored from third on a passed ball in what was the game-winning run. Nathan Miller, a pinch hitter, then drew a walk before they got their second run of the game off a sacrifice fly, this time courtesy of Jake Burgess.
After a scoreless fourth, Miller homered to left for his first career home run. Will Cell and Saito each reached base in front of leadoff hitter Luke De Vries who drew a second walk.
Jared Anderson was able to take advantage of the runner in scoring position as he brought around Cell for the sixth run which came on a single to center.
With the game still close, 6-2, the Bulldogs got the first two batters on base in the eighth before Mejorado dropped down the sacrifice bunt that advanced them both into scoring position. After a strikeout put two outs on the board, Preece came up and hit a three-run home run to left center for his first as a Bulldog.
Russell stayed in the game in the ninth and pitched a one-two-three final inning as he got the save and finished off four shutout innings with four strikeouts on only 48 pitches.
Reiter finished his first start of the season with five innings, two runs, and six strikeouts.
At the plate De Vries reached base four times with three walks and a single. Anderson went 3-for-5 with a run and RBI, Preece drove in three and had two hits and runs. Cell went 2-for-3 with a run as the Bulldogs had 17 combined hits and walks.
The Bulldogs and War Hawks complete their three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader that starts at 11:00 a.m. at The Yard.