On a rainy Sunday at The Yard, the University of Redlands baseball team fell, 6-8, to Pacific University (OR) in non-conference action. The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was canceled due to the wet forecast.
First-year pitcher Andrew Rueter (San Diego, CA) took the mound for a three-up-three-down inning to begin the game. After giving up a run in the top of the second, the Bulldogs gained a small spark of offense from first-year catcher Sammy Diaz (Palm Desert), who sent a double down the left-field line with two outs. Unfortunately, the spark ended there.
As action progressed to the bottom of the third, junior outfielder Tony Rosario (Monterey Park, CA) got things going with a single to right center. Junior third baseman Anthony Acosta (Simi Valley, CA) followed that up with an explosive double to advance Rosario to third. Senior shortstop Aaron Singh (Anaheim, CA) brought him home on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1 after three.
The Boxers gained back the advantage at the top of the fifth with a run, but the Redlands bats came alive in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Rosario led off with a nice single past the third baseman but was then thrown out on a fielder's choice, which allowed Acosta to get on first. After Singh earned a free pass, senior first baseman Brendan Moore (Murrieta, CA) launched a double to deep, left field to bring in two runners for a 3-2 lead.
The Bulldogs faced a tough seventh inning and allowed three runs, but sophomore pitcher Cal Bridges (Fremont, CA) registered a crucial strikeout to end the inning with two Boxers left on base.
The Maroon and Gray answered again with a lucrative inning in the bottom of the eighth to push ahead by a score of 6-5. After first-year designated hitter Alex Olague's (Renton, WA) leadoff double to left center, Rosario came away with another big hit to left field that scored sophomore pinch runner Trevor Smith (Coronado, CA). With the bases loaded, junior second baseman Andrew Renteria (Van Nuys, CA) knocked a long single over the Boxers' second baseman to bring in two runs for Redlands' 6-5 advantage.
As the game came down to the wire in the ninth, Pacific scored two unanswered runs to escape with an 8-6 win. Senior third baseman Eduardo Martinez-Razo (Rialto, CA) hit a double in the bottom of the inning, but it was not enough for a Bulldog comeback.
Overall, Rosario enjoyed a 3-for-5 showing at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Both Olague and Renteria added two hits apiece, while Moore posted two RBI and six putouts.
Redlands (0-2) looks ahead to a lengthy road-stretch, beginning with a four-game slate at the Tucson Invite on February 7-9. The Bulldogs take on Pacific Lutheran University on the 7th at 11 a.m.