The University of Redlands baseball team dropped the final two games of the three-game series with Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Saturday afternoon, losing the opener of the doubleheader 4-6, while stumbling in game two, 3-13.
Game one turned out to be a series of missed opportunities, as the Bulldogs left a total of 14 base runners on the base paths.
After surrendering two runs to the Sagehens in the bottom half of the first, Redlands came right back with two runs of its own in the top of the second inning. Sophomore right-fielder Nathaniel Acosta (Chino Hills, CA) led off with a single to the left side. Then, following two-consecutive errors by Pomona-Pitzer, sophomore designated-hitter Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA) reached on an RBI fielders-choice, scoring Acosta from third base. Bulldog freshman third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Topeka, KS) capped the frame off for Redlands by ripping an RBI single through the left side to tie the game at 2-2.
Junior center-fielder Alex Scheiwe (Encinitas, CA) kept the hot hitting going for the Bulldogs in the top of the third by leading off with a sharp base hit through the right side. He then showed off his speed by stealing second and advanced to third on a single by left-fielder Marcus Himelhoch (Portland, OR). Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Hancock showed patience at the plate and walked, bringing in Scheiwe to give Redlands the one-run advantage.
Pomona-Pitzer tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third, but the U of R quickly retook the lead in the fourth. Sophomore shortstop Jordan Dresner (Etiwanda, CA) and sophomore first baseman Sean McMillan (Redwood City, CA) both registered singles before Scheiwe belted an RBI double into left-center field to score Dresner.
The Sagehens once again leveled the game by scoring a run in the bottom half of the fourth, but the contest remained in a deadlock until the seventh inning when Pomona-Pitzer regained the advantage by tallying two runs in the frame. The Bulldogs were unable to get another run on the board during the final two innings, resulting in the two-run defeat.
McMillan provided a solid 3-for-4 effort at the dish while Hancock led the team with two RBI. Senior pitcher Kyle Hart (Burbank, CA) went six innings from the hill for the Maroon and Gray while giving up six runs, only four of which were earned. Sophomore pitcher Josh Makler (Portland, OR) came into the game in relief for Hart and threw two impressive innings of shutout baseball while allowing just one hit and striking out one batter.
The final contest of the three-game series saw the U of R fall behind early and allow five runs in the first frame. Despite pulling two runs back in the top of the third, Redlands found itself trailing 2-11 after the first four innings. Unable to get out of the early hole, the Bulldogs could not recover, resulting in the 10-run loss.
In the defeat, senior first baseman Eliot Smith (West Linn, OR) went 3-for-3 at the plate while scoring two runs. Senior second baseman Jason Henning (Redlands, CA) also provided a solid day at the dish, registering two hits. Additionally, Hancock notched a team-high two RBI in the final game of the weekend series.
Redlands (6-7, 5-4 SCIAC) returns to action on Friday, March 8, when it takes on the Kingsmen of Cal Lutheran University. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m. at The Yard.