The University of Redlands baseball team took to the road on Friday to face off against the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps College Stags in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action. Despite not scoring a single run and only recording two hits through eight innings, the Bulldogs overcame a three-run deficit in the top of the ninth inning by scoring four runs and held on to a 4-3 victory over the Stags.
Sophomore starter Felix Minjarez (Riverside, CA) climbed the hill for Redlands and pitched effectively by blanking CMS through the first five innings. After allowing a single to the first batter in the bottom of the first inning, Minjarez settled in and retired the following eight batters in a row. Additionally, junior catcher Kyle Wallau (San Mateo, CA) gunned down the lone base-runner to help keep the bases clear for the first half of the contest.
However, the Stags pieced together a solid inning in the bottom of the sixth by plating three runs and handing Redlands a 0-3 deficit.
Nonetheless, fireworks were on display in the top of the ninth inning for the Bulldogs, as they began to mount a comeback.
Junior second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA) plated the first Bulldog run of the game with a double to right field, scoring senior left-fielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA). Senior right-fielder Christian Gurrola (Torrance, CA) followed suit by driving a sacrifice fly out to right field, allowing junior center-fielder Christian Conci (San Mateo, CA) to touch home. Sophomore pinch-runner Kyle Kabeary (Indio, CA) displayed his wheels by coming around to score on an error by the catcher for the tying run. Senior first baseman John Keane (Clayton, CA) capped off the inning by notching a sacrifice ground-out, scoring senior third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Anaheim, CA) for Redlands' 4-3 lead.
Sophomore hurler Adam Stead (Rialto, CA) entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning and slammed the door to earn the save en route to a 4-3 victory.
Sophomore reliever Rainier Aguilar (San Bernardino, CA) earned the win after chucking one inning and recording two strikeouts. Junior reliever John White (Burbank, CA) and sophomore southpaw Noah Jones (San Bernardino, CA) each recorded a shutout inning in relief, as well.
The Bulldogs (21-11, 14-8 SCIAC) finish off a three-game set in doubleheader fashion tomorrow at The Yard on a day that will recognize the seniors. Game times are set for 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
