The University of Redlands baseball team returned home to The Yard to face the Caltech Beavers for a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader on Saturday. The Bulldogs scored at least one run in 12 of the 14 innings played in a pair of 10-0 shortened-game victories.
Senior pitcher Adam Stead (Rialto, CA) took the ball for game one. Although Stead pitched out of the stretch, he fanned the final two batters to put Redlands back on offense.
The Bulldogs put up a single run in the first and a three-spot in the second. After a walk and a stolen base, junior shortstop Aaron Singh (Anaheim, CA) advanced to third on a bunt base-hit from senior center fielder Kyle Kabeary (Indio, CA) and subsequently raced home on a Caltech miscue. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, the bases were loaded for senior third basemen Brendan Gardiner (Mission Viejo, CA). Gardiner sent a shot to deep, center field for two RBI and a 4-0 Redlands lead through three innings.
Back-to-back extra base-hits from Kabeary and senior right fielder Jordan Babbitt (Highland, CA) gave the Maroon and Gray another run in the third.
Redlands distanced the spread by three more runs in the fourth and fifth frames on a combined two hits, a sacrifice fly, and one error. First-year pitcher Matt Crow (Lake Elsinore, CA) replaced Stead on the mound in the top of the sixth and quickly recorded back-to-back strikeouts. Although he allowed a hit, he quickly regrouped to fan the third out.
The Bulldogs owned an 8-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. With two men on and two outs, senior second baseman Will Hall (Seattle, WA) laced a bases-clearing triple to right center for two RBI and the walk-off, seven-inning, 10-0 victory.
Stead had a nice day on the mound with six strikeouts en route to earning the win.
After a quick break, Redlands looked to duplicate its efforts and complete the SCIAC sweep of Caltech. This time senior Noah Jones (San Bernardino, CA) took the hill for the Bulldogs. Jones retired the side in order to put the Bulldogs back on offense quickly.
The home team gave Jones a one-run lead in the first on a sacrifice fly. Defensively, Jones continued to deal strikes, going three up, three down in the second and third innings.
The Bulldogs added a run on a Caltech balk in the third and continued to add to their lead by putting up a two-spot in the fourth and fifth innings. Singh led off the fourth with a triple to left center. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, first-year left fielder Dana Sullivan (Boulder, CO) laid down a bunt base-hit for an RBI. One more run on a wild pitch gave Redlands a 4-0 lead after four.
In the fifth, junior first baseman Brendan Moore (Murrieta, CA) knocked a single to left before Singh plated him on a double to left. Kabeary continued to hammer left field with another base-hit that allowed Singh to get all the way home for a 6-0 advantage.
Jones executed a nice pick-off play in the top of the sixth for the third out. Shortly after, the Bulldogs added a run on two hits that gave Jones a 7-0 lead going into the seventh.
This time on a nice spin, pick-off move to second, Jones nabbed the lead-off runner for the final out in the top of the seventh.
Head Coach Aaron Holley rejuvenated the lineup with fresh bats that ultimately led to a no-outs, bases-loaded situation for first-year right fielder Brennen Carr (Chino Hills, CA). Carr stayed back on the pitch and hung a double down the right-field line for two RBI. Gardiner subsequently traded places with him on a deep shot over the center fielder's head that gave Redlands the 10-0 lead. With this hit, the Bulldogs ended the game in the seventh inning for their second, shortened-game victory to complete the sweep of Caltech.
Jones was credited with the seven-inning, complete-game victory. Gardiner impressed at the plate by going 5-for-8, including a double and a triple. He knocked four RBI and scored three runs on the day. Kabeary, Hall, and Singh also knocked a triple each, with Singh also tacking on a double.
Redlands (21-6, 10-2 SCIAC) takes on its final non-conference competitor of the regular season with a single game against Middlebury College (VT) on Wednesday, March 28, at 3 p.m.
