The University of Redlands baseball squad traveled to Eagle Rock for a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader against the Occidental College Tigers on Saturday. The Bulldogs won their second-straight SCIAC series by grabbing a thrilling, extra-inning 10-6 win in game two but lost the day's opener by a score of 5-7.
Freshman Noah Jones (San Bernardino, CA) was shifted out of his regular closing role and handed the ball for the game-two start. Despite his recent dominance in the ninth-inning role, the freshman struggled early and gave up four runs in just 2.2 innings of work.
With the Bulldogs facing an early deficit after the opening two frames, senior catcher Sean McMillan (Lakewood City, CA) yanked a one-out homerun over the right-field wall. Junior left-fielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA) followed with a two-bagger to left field, scoring senior center fielder Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA) while trimming the deficit to 2-3.
Senior hurler Michael Collins (Upland, CA) entered the game with two outs in the bottom of the third and halted the Tigers' offense for the following five-innings. He registered four strikeouts and effectively used his defense by producing numerous ground-outs.
While the pitchers' duel ensued, the Bulldogs notched a run off the bat of freshman designated hitter Joey Warner (Indio, CA), who singled around Hancock to keep it a one-run game at 3-4.
After senior slugger Christian Gurrola (Torrance, CA) tied up the game with a clutch, two-out single that scored Samson, Redlands grabbed its first lead of the contest off of another two-out RBI-single, with this one coming from sophomore second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA).
However, the Bulldogs were unable to close out the contest in the final half-inning, as Occidental pushed across a run to tie up the game up at six apiece and force extra innings.
The Maroon and Gray wasted no time during "free baseball" as junior pinch-hitter Tyler Shreve (Redlands, CA) poked a single to left field, scoring freshman Will Hall (Seattle, WA) after he was issued a free pass on a walk.
The RBI-train continued to roll for Redlands, as Dresner and Hancock each notched back-to-back RBI-base-hits, taking the lead at 10-6.
Although the Tigers plated one run in the bottom of the tenth it was no match for the Bulldogs' late-game four-spot, which resulted in the Maroon and Gray's 10-6 win.
Collins earned the victory after tossing a solid seven innings and striking out five. Freshman reliever John White (Burbank, CA) earned the save as he entered into the game for the final out in the tenth inning.
McMillan stepped up with a solid 3-for-4 day performance with a solo round-tripper. Senior shortstop Jordan Dresner (Etiwanda, CA) and Hancock each had two RBI in game two, while Gurrola and Shreve each notched crucial pinch-hit RBI to aid the victory.
Earlier in the day, freshman pitcher Matthew Acosta (San Bernardino, CA) was handed the ball for the start in game one. The right-handed hurler suffered a rough second inning, as he allowed five runs to cross home plate to put the Bulldogs in an early hole.
However, Redlands responded in the top of the third inning, when Dresner singled home Scalisi after he led off the inning with a single.
Despite a rocky start for Acosta, he began to settle in by retiring seven of the following eight batters. White lifted Acosta of his duties with one out in the fifth inning and punched out two batters to end the frame, keeping the Bulldogs within striking distance of the lead.
Redlands fed off of White's power-pitching by tossing a crooked number on the board in the top of the fifth. Junior third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Anaheim, CA) stepped up with the bases loaded and uncorked a single to left field, scoring Warner. Dresner and Hancock drew back-to-back, bases-loaded walks to tie the score at 5-5.
Despite a gritty comeback to tie the game, the Maroon and Gray's bullpen struggled to close out the final two innings from the mound, thus resulting in the 5-7 defeat.
Tumlinson notched a 3-for-4 outing with two RBI and a run scored. Scalisi matched his hits total with three while also crossing the dish once. Dresner notched two RBI to go along with a 1-fo-4 showing in game one.
White picked up the loss in 2.2 innings of work, despite striking out five batters.
The Bulldogs (10-5, 7-5 SCIAC) will take a short break from SCIAC action by hosting Rutgers University – Newark (NJ) on Friday, March 13, at the Yard. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m.