The No. 30 University of Redlands baseball team competed in non-conference action on Friday by facing off against the Ithaca College (NY) Bombers under beautiful conditions at The Yard. The Bulldogs carted a hot set of bats that barreled 14 hits and a solid pitching performance, as highlighted by sophomore starter Felix Minjarez (Riverside, CA), who allowed zero runs over 7.2 innings of work, in a 17-0 rout over the Bombers.
Minjarez found his groove early in the contest by allowing just one hit through his first three innings. In addition, he followed that by striking out the side in order in the top of the fourth frame. He experienced minimal difficulties commanding his pitches and effectively working off his defense.
The Bulldogs' offense struck first in the bottom of the third inning, as sophomore shortstop Brendan Gardiner (Mission Viejo, CA) launched a sacrifice fly out to left field, allowing junior catcher Kyle Wallau (San Mateo, CA) to touch home. Sophomore second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA) backed the opening run with an RBI-single up the middle, plating senior first baseman John Keane (Clayton, CA) for the Maroon and Gray's early 2-0 lead.
Senior third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Anaheim, CA) kept the ball rolling for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the fifth inning by hitting a deep fly ball off the right-field foul line in foul territory for a sacrifice fly, plating Keane. The Bulldogs added two more runs on consecutive wild pitches in the subsequent inning to grab a 5-0 advantage.
The Maroon and Gray opened the flood gates in the bottom of the seventh and eighth innings. The Bulldogs drew three bases-loaded walks and drew two bases-loaded hit-by-pitches. Freshman catcher Brendan Moore (Murrieta, CA), senior left-fielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA), senior first baseman Ryan Franklin (Manhattan Beach, CA), and sophomore designated hitter Joey Warner (Indo, CA) all notched RBI-hits in the eighth inning en route to a commanding 17-0 victory.
Minjarez picked up the victory after blanking the Bombers and scattering just three hits and recording eight punch-outs in 7.2 innings of work. Sophomore reliever Adam Stead (Rialto, CA) was solid out of the bullpen by allowing zero hits, notching one strikeout, and allowing just one base runner.
Scalisi went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Sophomore center-fielder Christian Conci (San Mateo, CA) notched a 2-for-3 day with two runs scored, while Gardiner went 2-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Wallau had a solid day behind the dish by throwing out two potential base-stealers by a significant margin. Additionally, he added one hit to the ledger.
The Bulldogs (14-6) continue action on Monday, March 21, by facing off against the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks for a doubleheader at The Yard. Game times are set for 12 noon and 3 p.m.
