In an offensive explosion at The Yard on Friday afternoon, the University of Redlands baseball team scored six runs in the first inning to crack open a 17-2 victory over non-conference opponent Ithaca College. For the game, the Maroon and Gray tallied a season-high 21 hits and 17 RBI.
Sophomore pitcher Chris Fousek Jr. (San Diego, CA) climbed the hill for the Bulldogs and struck out two of the first three batters in a 1-2-3 inning.
Senior shortstop Aaron Singh (Anaheim, CA) capitalized with an impressive lead-off home run over the left-field fence to get things going in the bottom of the first. With two outs and two on, sophomore right fielder Cal Bridges (Fremont, CA) beat out the throw from shortstop for a single that pushed across two runs for Redlands' 3-0 lead. During the next at-bat, senior designated hitter Eduardo Martinez-Razo (Rialto, CA) ripped another deep dinger to left center, which put three more runs on the board for the Bulldogs. To end the inning, first-year center fielder Payton Walsh (Santa Ana, CA) doubled down the left-field line to score the sixth run of the game.
The Maroon and Gray's defense stifled the Bombers once again in the second with three-consecutive outs to retire the frame. After another RBI-single from Bridges in the bottom of the inning, Ithaca went to the bullpen to switch its pitcher. However, the Bulldogs did not skip a beat and recorded scoring plays on the next three at-bats for three more runs. Facing two outs, Singh went yard for the second time of the game with two on to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 13-0 after two innings.
It was not until the fourth inning that the Bombers finally recorded a hit. Nonetheless, Fousek struck out the next batter to keep Ithaca off the scoreboard.
Although the Bombers managed a single run in each the fifth and sixth innings, Redlands answered with a three-run inning in the bottom of the seventh to lengthen its lead to 17-2. First-year first baseman Alex Olague (Renton, WA) highlighted the stanza with a deep triple to the right-center wall for two runs.
In addition to two home runs, Singh registered four RBI and scored two runs. Martinez-Razo also posted four RBI on two hits, while junior second baseman Andrew Renteria (Van Nuys, CA) went 2-for-3 for two runs.
On the hill, Fousek threw four strikeouts in his six innings pitched. Sophomore pitcher Justin Yang (Fountain Valley, CA) climbed the hill for the first time this season to record two strikeouts in one inning pitched.
Redlands (8-11-1) continues its non-conference slate with a home contest against Bowdoin College (ME) on Sunday, March 17, at 12 noon.
