The University of Redlands baseball team exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the third inning against the visiting Caltech Beavers, propelling the squad to a 17-5 victory on Friday.

Overall, Redlands gained a well-rounded performance at the plate, with 12 players notching at least one hit in the triumph. Leading the offensive onslaught, senior shortstop Chase Tucker (Poway, CA) crushed a pair of triples in a 2-for-4 showing that included six RBI and two runs scored.

Sophomore centerfielder Alex Scheiwe (Encinitas, CA) also stepped up for the Maroon and Gray, plating three runs on a triple in the game-changing third inning.

Making his first plate appearance since March 24, freshman right fielder Nathaniel Acosta (Chino Hills, CA) fired off his second two-run long ball of the season, contributing to the Bulldogs' five-spot in the fifth.

After four solid innings during Friday's shortened contest, junior pitcher Kyle Hart (Burbank, CA) collected his fourth win from the mound. Junior Mike Massari (Palmdale, CA), senior Josh Snyder (Denver, CO), and sophomore Ross Orman (Corvallis, OR) combined efforts to preserve the win in one-inning rotations.

Today's single contest opened the final three-game series in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competition for both teams.

Redlands (15-13, 9-10 SCIAC) heads to Caltech on Saturday for an 11 a.m. doubleheader against the Beavers.