Freshman outfielder Max Hardman (Encinitas, CA) had a flare for the dramatic on Saturday as he launched a walk-off grand slam to secure the University of Redlands baseball team's 9-6 victory over the 13th-ranked Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens. Hardman entered the game in the eighth inning and eventually provided a well-timed offensive punch in the bottom of the ninth. The towering long ball was the rookie's first career home run as a Bulldog.
Redlands pulled out the theatrical come-from-behind victory with two outs in the inning. Junior first baseman Jon Cavender (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) initiated the rally with a seeing-eye single through the left side. Junior second baseman Cameron Lowe (Olympia, WA) followed suit with a single up the middle, before junior corner infielder Ben Saunders (Poway, CA) loaded the bases by drawing a clutch five-pitch walk to set up Hardman's big blast.
Five different Bulldog throwers combined efforts in the series finale with junior pitcher Trenton Lively (La Verne, CA) picking up his first career Bulldog win after chucking a hitless final inning.
Overall, the Bulldogs took two of three games in the weekend showdown against Pomona-Pitzer, also winning the doubleheader opener by a score of 8-2 at The Yard on Saturday.
Sophomore starting pitcher Kyle Hart (Burbank, CA) picked up the victory after six frames. Although he gave up five walks and six hits, he stepped up to get out of three bases-loaded jams in the second, third and sixth innings. Between sophomore Paul Dippel (East Granby, CT) and junior Brock Jacobo (Yuma, AZ), the Bulldogs finished out the game by tossing three scoreless innings.
Senior leftfielder Brandon Owashi (San Diego, CA) collected two hits and two runs, while Lively launched his second long ball and registered three RBI.
In addition, Lowe posted a three-hit performance and pushed a run across for the Bulldogs.
On Friday, Redlands dropped a heartbreaking 2-4 decision after leading the game through seven innings. However, the wheels came off as the Sagehens rallied for runs in the eighth and ninth innings while the Bulldog bats went silent.
Senior pitcher Derek Johnson (Canby, OR) suffered his first loss of the 2011 season. The veteran threw a solid eight innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits while striking out three Sagehens.
Owashi's solid weekend began on Friday when he went 3-for-4 at the plate while notching a steal and a run in the ballgame.
Competing as the designated hitter, Lively also contributed to Redlands' offense with a 2-for-4 performance.
Redlands (22-8, 15-5 SCIAC) takes to the field on Friday when it hosts the Tigers of Occidental College in single conference game. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at The Yard. The two teams then battle it out in an 11 a.m. doubleheader on Saturday in Eagle Rock.