The University of Redlands baseball team dropped the first contest of a three-game series at the University of La Verne, 0-8, in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on Friday.
Defensively, the Bulldogs started the game well with a 1-2-3 inning in the first, but the Leopards put up a crooked number in the third and ultimately built an 8-0 lead.
For Redlands, junior third baseman Anthony Acosta (Simi Valley, CA) doubled to right field in the top of the fourth but he could not make it home before the last out.
The Maroon and Gray began to generate more offense with six hits over the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings but struggled to push the runs across.
However, the Bulldogs' bullpen did all it could by holding La Verne scoreless for the final four innings. Sophomore pitcher Nick Hammel (San Diego, CA) entered the game to retire the fourth with two left on and then pitched a three-up, three-down inning in the bottom of the sixth. Junior pitcher Michael Rishebarger (Oceanside, CA) relieved him in the seventh and forced the Leopards to hit into a double play. He also fanned a batter en route to an efficient eighth.
For the game, first-year catcher Sammy Diaz (Palm Desert, CA) and senior designated hitter Eduardo Martinez-Razo (Rialto, CA) each went 3-for-4 at the plate.
Redlands (14-17-1, 8-8 SCIAC) finishes the series against La Verne with a doubleheader at the Yard on Saturday, April 13, beginning at 11 a.m.