The University of Redlands baseball team fell behind early on Friday afternoon at The Yard, but came back to win convincingly against the Stags of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, 9-5. In the tight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings, the Bulldogs remain in fifth place with the triumph.
Despite surrendering two runs to the Stags in the top of the first inning, the Bulldogs responded with one of their own in the bottom of the frame to split the deficit.
The Maroon and Gray then took the lead for good in the third inning by racking up three runs. Senior second baseman Jason Henning (Redlands, CA) notched the big hit of the frame, doubling to left field to bring in two Bulldog base runners. Two batters later, sophomore first baseman Sean McMillan (Redwood City, CA) notched his second RBI on the day when he doubled to deep right-center field, plating Henning.
Redlands tacked on a trio of runs in the fourth frame as well. After freshman catcher Christian Heideger (Shoreline, WA) led off by being hit by a pitch, junior left-fielder Max Hardman (Encinitas, CA) singled to left field. Both runners would then come in to cross the plate when sophomore shortstop Jordan Dresner (Etiwanda, CA) blasted a two-RBI triple to deep centerfield. Dresner eventually came in to score to push the Bulldogs' advantage to 7-2.
The U of R tallied a run in each of the next two innings, putting the game well out of reach by the end of the sixth frame.
By this point, Redlands senior pitcher Eliot Smith (West Linn, OR) had found his rhythm and was shutting down CMS from the mound. After giving up the two early runs, Smith held the Stags scoreless for the next six innings and worked into the eighth frame. He ended up scattering nine hits while striking out five batters en route to tallying his sixth win on the campaign.
At the plate, Hardman led the way for the Bulldogs by providing a 3-for-3 effort with one RBI and two runs scored. Henning also was perfect at the dish, going 2-for-2 with a team-best three RBI, while Dresner and sophomore designated hitter Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA) both added a pair of hits on the day.
Redlands (17-12, 13-9 SCIAC) travels to CMS tomorrow for a conference doubleheader with the Stags. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
