The 15th-ranked University of Redlands baseball team fell to NAIA opponent Azusa Pacific University by a score of 3-4 in Tuesday's non-conference bout in Azusa.
The Maroon and Gray jumped on the board early by taking advantage of sophomore center fielder Alex Scheiwe's (Encinitas, CA) game-starting double. Scheiwe put the pressure on the Cougars' defense, stealing third base and then scoring on a throwing error to give Redlands the early lead.
Azusa Pacific immediately responded with three consecutive runs to regain the momentum.
The Bulldogs rallied to even up the score with a two-run sixth inning with senior left fielder Trenton Lively (La Verne, CA) and senior shortstop Chase Tucker (Poway, CA) collecting RBI.
While the team worked eight different throwers in the game, junior reliever Mike Massari (Palmdale, CA) picked up his first loss of his career after giving up the final run in the top of the seventh frame.
At the dish, Scheiwe continued his early-season success as the team's leadoff hitter, notching another three-hit performance while crossing home on two occasions. The speedy outfielder is currently hitting a whopping .750 and leads the club with nine runs.
The Bulldogs' No. 3 hitter, Tucker, has been a roll as well, recording a base knock in all five contests this season.
Redlands (3-2) opens up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on Friday when the Bulldogs host the Occidental College Tigers at The Yard for a 2:30 p.m. showdown.