REDLANDS, Calif. – After seeing their four-game series with Willamette University cancelled due to COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols in the Bearcat program, the University of Redlands Baseball team was forced to pivot taking on Cal State L.A. for a pair of games.
Friday afternoon the Maroon and Grey hosted the Golden Eagles for a single game and fell 15-5 in The Yard dropping to 1-1 on the season.
The Bulldogs fell behind early after the Golden Eagles put up 11 runs across the first three innings. Redlands did get one of the runs back in the bottom half of the 2nd off the bat of Max Smyley (Sarasota, FL) who sent a solo shot to deep left. This was his third homerun in less than two full games here in 2022.
UR got their second run in the bottom of the third. Jared Anderson (Gilbert, AZ) started off the frame with a walk and moved to third after an Esteban Nakashima (Riverside, CA) double to left center. Jonah Advincula (Santa Clara, CA) then stepped in and grounded out to second bringing in Anderson.
With the Maroon and Grey trailing by nine, Smyley doubled their run total from two to four with his second home run of the game, a two-run shot to right center. This was his fourth home run of the season, giving him one more than he had in his 40 career games coming into the season.
In the bottom of the seventh Redlands got their fifth and final run of the game thanks to a passed ball that allowed Nakashima to score. He had started the inning off with a base hit and then advanced to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch.
On the day, the Bulldogs had nine hits, four of which were for extra-bases (XBH), while the pitching staff combined for eleven strikeouts.
Seven different players recorded a hit with Nakashima and Smyley both having multi-hit days. Smyley went 2-for-4 with his two home runs, three runs batted in (RBI), and a walk. Advincula drove in a run, doubled, and stole a base.
On the mound six different Bulldogs saw action giving up thirteen hits, walking nine batters and hitting another five. But after allowing eleven runs in the first three innings, the Bulldogs settled down and ended the game with scoreless appearances from Nathan Buchan (Mercer Island, WA) and Omar Barraza (San Mateo, CA) in the eighth and ninth innings. Buchan went one inning with two strikeouts and Barraza after getting the bases loaded went on to retire the next three Golden Eagles with strikeouts.
Redlands and Cal State L.A. play their second and final game of the series tomorrow, Saturday, February 12 with first pitch set for 1:00pm.