The No. 19 University of Redlands baseball team exploded offensively in its two California Classic games against the University of Puget Sound (WA) on Saturday at The Yard, splitting a doubleheader with the Loggers by scores of 6-9 and 14-9, respectively.

A late surge toward the end of the first contest allowed Puget Sound to hold off the Bulldogs.

Redlands jumped out to an early 1-0 lead with an RBI single by senior outfielder Cory Vane (Simi Valley, CA), but the Loggers responded with one run in the top of the second.

With the score tied at one, the Maroon and Gray posted three unanswered runs. Senior pitcher/infielder Evan Dunn (Portland, OR) doubled down the rightfield line in the second, scoring senior outfielder Jordan Snider (Temecula, CA). The third inning started off with a run by senior infielder Tony Stutevoss (Portland, OR), who made his way home following a failed attempt at a double play. With two outs, Vane singled through the right side, and then senior outfielder Matt Goldstein (Lincoln, CA) drove him home in the ensuing at bat.

The Logger bats awoke in the sixth as Puget Sound collected four runs on four hits. Goldstein answered with a triple in his leadoff at bat for the Bulldogs in the bottom of the sixth, and then Snider brought him home by means of a groundout to the shortstop.

Puget Sound tacked on the go-ahead run in the seventh with a Mark Rockey double, which scored Gregg Ringold. Rockey legged his way home as Will Mentor plated him with a two-out single down the leftfield line, giving the Loggers a 7-5 lead.

A double play thwarted a Bulldog rally in the eighth, but Braband salvaged the inning by crossing the plate following an RBI single by senior outfielder/catcher Kyle Rizzo (Redlands, CA).

Adding onto their lead, the Loggers put the game out of reach with a two-run ninth that included two runs on three hits.

Senior pitcher Kevin Bissell (Orange, CA) entered the game in relief and surrendered the go-ahead run, giving him the loss. Puget Sound’s Colby Robinson earned the win following a 1.1-inning stint in relief, and Spencer Crace picked up the save for effectively retiring Redlands in the final 1.1 frames of the game.

Vane batted an electric 4-for-5 from the plate with a stolen base while additional multi-hit Bulldog performances came from sophomore outfielder Brandon Owashi (San Diego, CA), Goldstein, Snider and Braband.

Goldstein’s two triples equaled his previous season best.

Fortunes changed for the Maroon and Gray in game two of the twin bill as Redlands poured on run after run, defeating the Loggers 14-9.

In game two, Redlands played as the visiting team while Puget Sound competed as the home team.

The two teams exchanged blows in the first two innings. The Bulldogs commenced the offensive onslaught with a four-run first, but the Loggers responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Redlands fired off two runs in the top of the second while Puget Sound added on three.

While the Maroon and Gray held the lead the entirety of the game, Puget Sound kept the game close until Redlands unleashed a five-run seventh.

Senior utility player Will Wetmore (Santa Cruz, CA) started out the inning with a double to right center and advanced to third following a Dunn sacrifice bunt. Braband and Rizzo each walked, loading up the bases. Logger Head Coach Brian Billings yanked reliever Jarvis Nohara, who had faced a mere five batters in .2 innings on the mound. The Loggers’ new pitcher walked yet another batter, Stutevoss, and the walk brought home Wetmore. Junior catcher Jefre Johnson (Canby, OR), who had already smacked a home run earlier in the game, belted a grand slam over the rightfield wall onto adjacent Farquhar Field. His home run proved detrimental to Puget Sound’s momentum and ultimately gave Redlands the run support it needed to win.

Johnson and Vane each had monster showings at the plate in their own rights. Johnson blasted two homers while driving in a remarkable six runs on four hits. Vane kept his consistency going with a 4-for-6 outing at the dish. In both games combined, Vane went 8-for-11 with two runs and one RBI.

Lasting five-and-a-third innings, junior pitcher/infielder Michael Lessig (Fountain Hills, AZ) earned his third victory of the season with eight strikeouts. Redlands’ bullpen held up well as Bissell and sophomore pitcher Derek Johnson (Canby, OR) allowed just three runs in the final 3.2 innings. Puget Sound’s starter, Cameron Duvall, was charged with the loss.

Redlands (11-4, 6-0 SCIAC) finishes out its slate of California Classic games tomorrow with a 1 p.m. tilt against Rutgers University-Camden (NJ) at The Yard.