The University of Redlands baseball team hosted a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader against the University of La Verne Leopards on a gloomy Saturday at the Yard. While winning the three-game series against ULV, the Bulldogs split the doubleheader by taking the first game, 5-3, but falling in the second game, 6-10.
Freshman hurler Matthew Acosta (San Bernardino, CA) climbed the hill for the Bulldogs in game one and got off to a solid start by retiring the side in order to kick off the contest.
The Maroon and Gray wasted minimal time throwing runs onto the scoreboard, as sophomore second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA) crossed home plate on a passed ball after leading off with a single through the left side.
Although the Leopards tied up the game in the top of the second, the Bulldogs quickly responded in the bottom of the frame, as Scalisi put the ball in play and reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded, scoring junior right-fielder Tyler Shreve (Redlands, CA) for the 2-1 advantage.
Acosta continued to deal after the Maroon and Gray grabbed the lead, retiring the next eight batters in order, which included a ground ball double play to erase a lead-off single in the third inning.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bulldogs worked to load the bases after a single from junior first baseman Ryan Franklin (Manhattan Beach, CA), a hit-by-pitch from junior left-fielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA), and a walk from Scalisi. Junior third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Anaheim, CA) capitalized with the bases juiced by shooting a double down the left-field line to plate two runs. Senior center-fielder Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA) kept the inning rolling by drawing a two-out walk, which allowed senior shortstop Jordan Dresner (Etiwanda, CA) to score and expand the U of R lead to 5-1.
Acosta continued to battle on the mound by completing seven innings of work while giving up three runs and striking out two batters.
The freshman bullpen duo of John White (Burbank, CA) and Noah Jones (San Bernardino, CA) sealed a 5-3 victory by teaming up to hold the Leopards scoreless in the final two frames. White recorded one strikeout, while Jones snagged his third save on the season.
Tumlinson provided the big bat in game one, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored. Dresner notched a 2-for-3 game while drawing two walks.
In the final game of the three-game series, senior pitcher Michael Collins (Upland, CA) was handed the ball for the start. Collins struggled to toss up zeros in the first three frames of work, but fanned five batters in the process.
After La Verne grabbed a quick 2-0 lead, Bulldog junior left-fielder Nathan Bowker (Edmond, OK) found outfield grass on a blooper-single to center field, scoring Hancock, who reached via single, to cut the deficit to one run.
The Leopards expanded their lead to 3-1 in the top of the third inning, but the Bulldogs' bats woke up as they registered four runs in the bottom half on the frame. Dresner and Shreve came up clutch by each barreling up RBI-singles, scoring Tumlinson and senior catcher Sean McMillian (Lakewood City, CA), respectively. Dresner later came around to score on a double play, while Franklin fired a single up the middle to score Hancock, giving the Bulldogs a 5-3 advantage.
Junior John Keane (Clayton, CA) entered into the game with two outs in the top of the fifth inning for his first appearance of the season and wiggled out of a jam by punching out a La Verne batter to end the inning.
Despite the heroic appearance, the Bulldogs were unable to halt the Leopards offensive rhythm, as they allowed seven more runs in the following six frames, eventually falling in a 6-10 decision.
Jones tossed another scoreless inning in game two and recorded two strikeouts, which holds his ERA at 0.00 in 9.1 innings pitched on the year.
Hancock registered a 2-for-3 effort while crossing he plate three times. Bowker and Franklin each went 2-for-4 while scoring a run.
Redlands (8-4, 5-4 SCIAC) takes on the Occidental College Tigers (10-2, 8-1 SCIAC) in a SCIAC showdown at home on Friday, March 6, at 2 p.m. in the Yard.