After recognizing four seniors for their respective contributions, the University of Redlands baseball team took on the in-region foes from the University of Puget Sound (WA) on a sunny day at the Yard. Despite the festivities, the Bulldogs struggled on the mound in a 7-11 loss in the opening game, before failing to create much offense in a 1-11 defeat in the night cap.
After sophomore second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA) wore a fastball square off the helmet, he was granted first and swiped second a couple of pitches later. Senior catcher Sean McMillan (Redwood City, CA) plated Scalisi by legging out an infield single to the shortstop for the Bulldogs' 1-0 lead after the first inning.
Although the Loggers equaled the tally in the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs responded in the bottom half of the frame to regain the lead at 2-1. Senior designated hitter Christian Gurrola (Torrance, CA) pieced a two-out single up the middle to score senior right-fielder Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA), who had reached via walk.
However, the Maroon and Gray's pitching staff labored through the final three innings, as the Loggers threw up back-to-back five-spots in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Bulldogs attempted to chip away at the deficit, tallying back-to-back RBI from senior shortstop Jordan Dresner (Etiwanda, CA) and Hancock and a two-out double in the right-center gap from McMillan. Furthermore, sophomore center-fielder Christian Conci (San Mateo, CA) brought the score to within four after barreling a single to centerfield for an RBI.
Nevertheless, the gap was too large to overcome, as the Bulldogs fell by a score of 7-11.
Freshman starter Matthew Acosta (San Bernardino, CA) picked up the loss after going four innings and allowing five runs. Freshman reliever Rainier Aguilar (San Bernardino, CA) had the most success out of the bullpen, as he tossed a scoreless ninth inning.
Hancock went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, and two runs scored. Conci finished with a 2-for-4 line that included a double, RBI, and run scored.
The Bulldogs' mid-game offense did not carry over into the second contest, as they were held to one run off three hits.
The lone run came off the bat of Gurrola, as he launched a hanging curveball over the centerfielder's head for a two-out double that plated Conci, who reached base on a free pass.
Junior first baseman Ryan Franklin (Manhattan Beach, CA) and freshman right-fielder Kyle Kabeary (Indio, CA) each recorded a single to account for the other two hits.
Junior hurler Michael Collins (Upland, CA) suffered the defeat after tossing 3.1 innings and giving up seven runs. Freshman reliever Adam Stead (Rialto, CA) had success out of the bullpen in game two, tossing three innings while allowing just one run and fanning five hitters.
The Bulldogs, who are slotted as the fourth seed entering into the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Final Four, will host a doubleheader on Saturday, April 25, beginning at 11 a.m. Redlands faces ninth-seeded Caltech at 11 a.m. and then takes on second-seeded University of La Verne at approximately 2 p.m.