Sunday mirrored the momentum swings of Saturday’s bout as the University of Redlands baseball team split a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) twin bill in Whittier, losing, 8-10, in game one before surging ahead late in game two’s offensive clash, 11-6.

Sophomore pitcher Derek Johnson (Canby, OR) saved his eighth game of the season in the back end of the doubleheader, and with the save, he became the sole owner of the program’s single-season saves record. He had tied the record on Saturday when he entered the game in the ninth and kept the Poet batters in check.

With temperatures stretching into the mid 90s, both teams took to the Memorial Baseball Field diamond in anticipation to sweep. Redlands sought to avenge a 3-7 March 20 loss in Whittier to the Poets in the California Invitational while Whittier looked to bounce back after a heart-breaking 9-10 defeat yesterday afternoon.

Redlands scored game one’s initial run in the top of the first as sophomore first baseman Manny Cardeiro (San Diego, CA) singled through the right side with two men on, plating senior outfielder Matt Goldstein (Lincoln, CA).

The Poets, who sought revenge after a 9-10 loss yesterday in the first bout of the three-game set, responded with runs by Anthony Cappelletti and Reed Tuttle to take the lead.

With one away in the top of the second, senior infielder Tony Stutevoss (Portland, OR) singled to center field, and two at bats later, he stole second. Junior shortstop Zack Braband (Alameda, CA) singled to right center, pushing Stutevoss across to tie the game at two.

A four-run third for Whittier, however, put the Bulldogs in a bind as the Poets scored four on three hits and one error.

The Bulldogs captured the momentum back the following inning as senior outfielder Corey Vane’s (Simi Valley, CA) single through the left side started a game-tying rally. Senior outfielder Jordan Snider (Temecula, CA) and Stutevoss both reached on fielder’s choice plays, and senior pitcher/infielder Evan Dunn (Portland, OR) singled through the left side, scoring Snider. An error by the shortstop with two outs kept the inning alive as the miscue loaded up the bases. Goldstein blasted a bases-clearing double to right center, plating Rizzo, Dunn and Stutevoss.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Poets regained the lead when a Lorenzo Lopez double to right center pushed across Cappelletti and Taylor Fallon.

Sophomore outfielder Brandon Owashi (San Diego, CA) pinch ran in the top of the fifth and scored from second on a Vane single up the middle, bringing the Maroon and Gray within one. Whittier extended the lead again in the bottom of the inning, taking advantage of an error charged against the Bulldog defense.

The Poets would tack one more on in the seventh before Redlands would supply the contest’s final run when Dunn crossed the plate on an error by the shortstop.

Goldstein provided a monster outing offensively, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and one run. He also offered a game-high in doubles with two.

Cardeiro and Vane each tallied two hits and one RBI.

On the mound, freshman pitcher Josh Snyder (Englewood, CO) went three-and-a-third innings, surrendering six earned runs while fanning one batter. Coming out of the bullpen in relief, freshman pitcher Brock Jacobo (Yuma, AZ) sustained the loss after giving up the go-ahead run. Senior pitcher Kevin Bissell (Orange, CA) pitched the final 2.1 innings and struck out three while holding Whittier to just one run.

As the temperatures cooled down in game two, the Poet pitching did as well as Redlands managed 11 runs on 17 hits in a resounding 11-6 triumph.

The Maroon and Gray started out early with a Goldstein single up the middle in the first, and junior catcher Jefre Johnson (Canby, OR) singled through the right side, advancing Goldstein to third. Cardeiro then singled up the middle, driving in Goldstein.

After Snider doubled to left field in the second, Stutevoss put him 90 feet away off of a sacrifice bunt, giving Redlands the opportunity to go up 2-0 early. Dunn mashed a hard-hit ball to the left fielder, and Snider advanced home on a sacrifice fly.

Whittier scored once in the third before the Bulldogs broke out for three runs in the fifth. Senior outfielder/catcher Kyle Rizzo (Redlands, CA), Goldstein and J. Johnson all scored to put the Maroon and Gray comfortably ahead, 5-1. In the sixth, Rizzo scored once again, placing the game’s momentum completely in Redlands’ favor.

The Poets battled back in the seventh, however, scoring five runs to knot the score up at six apiece. With D. Johnson in the game in the eighth and ninth innings, the Bulldogs would not allow any more runs to come across.

Motivated by the tied ballgame, the Maroon and Gray would thrash the Poet pitching in the eighth. Dunn started the inning out with a single to right, and Braband moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Rizzo and Goldstein walked, setting J. Johnson up for a momentum-changing, two-run double to right. Cardeiro plated Goldstein on a sacrifice fly, putting Redlands on top, 9-6.

Rizzo uncorked a shot to center field as the ball careened off of the tall outfield wall, and he used his speed to leg out a triple. He also plated Dunn and Stutevoss on the play, giving the Bulldogs an 11-6 lead, which would stand as the eventual final.

With a 4-for-5 performance at the plate, Rizzo paced the Bulldog offense with two RBI and three runs, falling just a home run short of the cycle. Goldstein went 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBI while J. Johnson also notched three hits while adding two RBI and one run. Also compiling two hits were Stutevoss and Snider.

Junior pitcher/infielder Michael Lessig (Fountain Hills, AZ) left the game in the seventh but pitched solidly, striking out five while surrendering four runs. Bissell made his third appearance in the series and earned the win, going one inning while striking out one and allowing two runs. D. Johnson shut the door on the Poets, tossing the final two innings while recording one strikeout.

Redlands (22-12, 12-6 SCIAC) travels to Orange on Friday to face Menlo College in the Chapman Tournament. Game time is set for 2 p.m.