The No. 15 University of Redlands baseball team suffered its first loss of the season on Saturday, losing to the No. 2 Chapman University Panthers by a final score of 3-5. Redlands' bullpen performed admirably by not allowing a single run over the final 4.1 innings, but the Bulldogs just missed out on fighting back from the early deficit.
Chapman combined for three runs in the second and third frames before UR rebounded by tacking on a single score in the bottom of the fourth.
Senior shortstop Chase Tucker (Poway, CA) took advantage of two Chapman miscues, reaching second base on a throwing error and then advancing to third off of a wild pitch. Fellow senior designated hitter Ben Saunders (New River, AZ) provided a well-timed deep ground ball to short, bringing home Tucker to collect the RBI.
However, the Panthers immediately responded with a two-run home run in the top half of the fifth.
Redlands refused to go down without a fight, scrapping together a two-run eighth inning, but it was too little, too late for the Maroon and Gray. In his first collegiate at-bat, freshman catcher Sean McMillan (Redwood City, CA) pinch hit and started the rally by lining a single through the left side of the infield. Sophomore centerfielder Alex Scheiwe (Encinitas, CA) ripped a single right back up the middle and then senior second baseman Cameron Lowe (Olympia, WA) put the U of R in great scoring position by hitting the ball to the right side, moving runners to second and third with only one out. Once again, Redlands capitalized on a Chapman error as senior outfielder/pitcher Trenton Lively (La Verne, CA) hit a hard ball to the second baseman who failed to cleanly field it and then tossed it away, plating both McMillan and Scheiwe.
Senior first baseman Jon Cavender (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) offered a solid day at the plate by going 2-for-4, including a laced double down the left-field line.
The Bulldogs' bullpen kept the club in contention with freshman Kevin MacLachlan (Healdsburg, CA) leading the effort. In a tight situation, the rookie made his UR debut by tossing 1.1 innings without allowing a hit or a run.
For the second consecutive game, the trio of junior Mike Massari (Palmdale, CA), Lively and senior Brock Jacobo (Yuma, AZ) finished out the final three frames without giving up a run.
Senior starter Adam Byrd (Bullhead City, AZ) took the loss after giving up five runs in 4.2 innings of work.
Junior Brian Rauh (Lake Forest, CA) went the distance for Chapman, earning the victory while surrendering five hits and three runs.
Redlands (1-1) picks up play on Sunday as the Bulldogs host NAIA opponent La Sierra University in doubleheader action at 11 a.m. at The Yard.
