The University of Redlands baseball team defeated Wesleyan University (CT) twice Saturday afternoon in a California Invitational doubleheader at The Yard in Redlands. The Bulldogs won the first game, 5-4, before blasting the Cardinals, 15-4 in the nightcap.
The Maroon and Gray played as the visiting team in the first game before competing as the home team in the second contest.
Despite giving up four runs in the second, Redlands slowly chipped away at the three-run deficit and hit its crescendo with a two-run ninth to seal the victory.
Senior catcher Jefre Johnson (Canby, OR) helped put the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI double in the top of the first. The Cardinals then capitalized on defensive miscues in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs off four hits and four errors.
Redlands scored on sacrifice flies in the fourth and seventh before erupting for two runs in the top of the ninth. Sophomore second baseman Chase Tucker (Poway, CA) started the inning out with a double to rightfield and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Wesleyan then swapped out its starting pitcher, Derek Lukin, to give way for James Hounsell. Hounsell gave up an RBI single to senior centerfielder Will Wetmore (Santa Cruz, CA), who drove in Tucker. Wetmore stole second before junior leftfielder Brandon Owashi (San Diego, CA) walked in the ensuing at bat. After a wild pitch moved Wetmore to third, the Cardinals put Chris Bonti on the mound to stop the rally. Sophomore catcher Jon Cavender (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), however, slapped a sacrifice fly to right to bring in Wetmore, which served as the eventual game-winning run.
Senior pitcher Jack Winters (Oradell, NJ) held serve in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the side to secure the victory.
Freshman pitcher Kyle Hart (Burbank, CA) received the starting nod on the mound for the Bulldogs, going seven innings while scattering eight hits and allowing four runs, none of which were earned. He also struck out five. Sophomore pitcher Adam Byrd (Bullhead City, AZ) and Winters pitched two perfect innings in relief. Byrd tossed the eighth inning and earned the win before Winters took over in the ninth and picked up the save.
James Hounsell shouldered the loss for Wesleyan after allowing the game-winning run to reach base. Derek Lukin pitched effectively for 8 1/3 frames, yielding four runs on 10 hits.
Wetmore stroked four hits in the victory while accounting for three of the team's five runs. Kyle Weiss had a 3-for-5 effort at the dish to lead the Cardinals.
The Bulldogs forced the California Invitational 10-run rule in the seventh inning of the second bout, overwhelming the Cardinals with swift baserunning and a prolific offense.
Wesleyan got off to a 4-0 lead after one-and-a-half innings, but Redlands used its wherewithal on the basepaths to plate five in the home half of the second. After obtaining that 5-4 advantage, the Maroon and Gray would never trail. Redlands scored five in the fourth and five in the seventh, with a double by junior rightfielder Nate Carlson (Portland, OR) serving as the game-ending hit.
Sophomore pitcher Josh Snyder (Denver, CO) was credited with the win, going six innings on the bump while striking out two. He held the Cardinals to four runs off 11 hits. Byrd pitched one frame in relief and downed the Wesleyan batters in order during the top of the seventh.
Dan Thompson absorbed the loss for Wesleyan, allowing 12 runs off 10 hits in six innings of action.
Graduate student catcher Brett Sandford (Santa Barbara, CA) went 3-for-3 with three RBI, three runs scored and a home run to pace the Bulldog offense in game two. Tucker, Carlson and Owashi also enjoyed multi-hit outings.
The Cardinal attack was powered by Alex Meadow, who racked up three hits in four at bats.
Redlands (18-3, 10-2 SCIAC) resumes Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play Friday when it hosts Caltech at 3 p.m. at The Yard.
