The University of Redlands baseball team hosted two visiting East Coast opponents on Friday at The Yard with senior pitcher Adam Byrd (Bullhead City, AZ) headlining the Bulldogs' performance by tossing a six-inning, complete-game shutout against the Berry College (GA) Vikings. The Bulldogs defeated the unfamiliar foe by a score of 7-0 in a shortened six-frame contest as a result of darkness after a late start to the contest.
Byrd was on a roll from the get-go, taking a no-hitter into the bottom half of the fifth inning. Overall, he allowed only three batters to reach base safely while giving up two hits and one walk, and fanned three Vikings in his impressive effort.
At the dish, all but one of the Maroon and Gray's starters registered a base knock, with four of them recording multiple hits, helping the team to score in each of the final four innings
Sophomore centerfielder Alex Scheiwe (Encinitas, CA) led the hit parade, going 3-for-4, while senior shortstop Chase Tucker (Poway, CA) posted a game-high three RBI.
Earlier in the day, Redlands dropped an extra-innings heartbreaker to the No. 2 Cougars of Kean University (NJ) by a score of 4-5.
The Bulldogs got on the board early and led for the majority of the contest before Kean pulled out three runs in the final five frames.
UR looked to even up the score in the bottom of the 11th inning as freshman right fielder Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA) laced a two-out single up the middle to bring home senior second baseman Cameron Lowe (Olympia, WA). But a controversial call determined that Lowe never reached home plate as Scheiwe was thrown out at third base before his teammate crossed the dish.
By in large, the Maroon and Gray hitters provided solid game, notching 15 hits with Hancock, Scheiwe and sophomore Max Hardman (Encinitas, CA) each tallying a three-hit effort. Lowe also chipped in a multi-hit game.
Rookie three-bagger Sean McMillan (Redwood City, CA) clutched up for the club by collecting three of the team's four RBI.
On the hill, junior starter Kyle Hart (Burbank, CA) grinded out a tough and gritty performance in the loss. Against one of the top lineups in the nation, Hart went eight innings while scattering 10 hits and allowing just three runs en route to a no-decision.
The Bulldogs continue with the Cal Invite on Saturday when they host the ninth-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors at 10 a.m.
