Senior pitcher Eliot Smith (West Linn, OR) pitched another gem for the University of Redlands baseball team and junior center-fielder Alex Scheiwe (Encinitas, CA) came up with a game-saving catch en route to an exciting 2-1 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) triumph over Chapman University on Friday afternoon at The Yard.
The Bulldogs surrendered an unearned run in the top of the first frame, but Smith settled into a groove after that, not allowing a Panther run for the rest of the day.
Redlands tied the ballgame up in the bottom of the fourth inning with a run of its own. Senior second basemen Jason Henning (Redlands, CA) led off with a single to right field. Two batters later, he took advantage of a wild pitch and advanced all the way to third base. Sophomore first baseman Sean McMillan (Redwood City, CA) then brought Henning home with an RBI groundout to the second baseman.
The top of the sixth inning saw the Panthers get runners to second and third base with two outs, and Chapman freshman catcher Matt Gandy (Tustin, CA) laced a long fly ball into the gap in right-centerfield. Scheiwe made a great break on the ball, dove and made the incredible catch at full extension, saving two runs from scoring.
The U of R carried the momentum from that fantastic catch into the bottom half of the frame, and Henning got things started with another single to right field. Up next, Scheiwe registered an infield single, beating out the throw from the Panther shortstop. McMillan then came up with what would be the game-winning hit, as he laced an RBI single off the first-base bag and into right field, scoring Henning.
Smith pitched all the way into the ninth inning for Redlands, but after allowing a couple of base hits in the frame, sophomore pitcher Josh Makler (Portland, OR) came in to close the door. He recorded the first out in spectacular fashion, making a diving catch on a popped-up bunt attempt by Chapman.
Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Makler made another good defensive play, fielding a bunt cleanly and getting the force out at home plate, not allowing the tying run to score. He then recorded the final out of the game when he got a Chapman batter to fly out to right field, securing the victory for the Maroon and Gray.
McMillan went 2-for-4 at the dish with the only two RBI of the game for the Bulldogs, while Henning led the squad with three hits and two runs scored. Freshman catcher Christian Heideger (Shoreline, WA) also put together a solid all-around performance, registering two hits and seven putouts defensively.
Leaving the contest in the ninth inning, Smith dispersed six hits and allowed just the one unearned run in the win while striking out six Panther batters.
Redlands (13-10, 9-7 SCIAC) travels to Chapman tomorrow for a SCIAC doubleheader with the Panthers. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
