The University of Redlands baseball team dropped a pair of non-conference games to Chapman University on Saturday to conclude the regular season. The Bulldogs had the tables turned on them with a come-from-behind effort by the Panthers in game one, mimicking the Maroon and Gray's success on Friday, followed by a 5-6 loss in the nightcap.
Redlands took advantage of a rough start by Chapman in the first game, as the Bulldogs loaded the bases on a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and an error. Senior shortstop Chase Tucker (Poway, CA) and junior first baseman Eliot Smith (West Linn, OR) each collected an RBI in the frame to put the visitors up, 2-0.
The Bulldogs tacked on another run in the third as well as the fifth to extend their lead to 4-1. They benefitted from a sacrifice fly and squeeze play to push across runs for a lead much like the one Chapman put together during Friday's game.
However, the Panthers mounted a comeback in the bottom of the seventh, plating two runs to cut Redlands' lead to one at 4-3. Chapman sealed the 5-4 victory, adding another pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Senior right-hander Brock Jacobo (Yuma, AZ) absorbed the loss in relief of junior right-handed pitcher Kyle Hart (Burbank, CA). Jacobo pitched 2.0 innings of work and allowed four runs on six hits. In his 13th start of the season, Hart threw 5.0 innings while allowing one earned run on six hits to go along with three strikeouts.
Chapman's Ben Levitt earned the victory in relief after tossing 3.0 innings. He allowed just one hit and struck out a single batter.
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs managed to tie the score at 5-all in the top of the seventh inning on a two-run double to left-center field off the bat of freshman outfielder Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA).
However, Chapman took advantage of a pair of miscues in the bottom of the ninth, and won the game by a score of 6-5 in walk-off fashion.
Senior right-hander Josh Snyder (Denver, CO) took the loss after allowing one unearned run on three hits in 2.2 innings of work. Senior southpaw Adam Byrd (Bullhead City, AZ) got the start for Redlands and pitched 5.2 innings, allowing five runs on 12 hits while fanning two.
The Panthers' Justin Hanks collected the victory in 0.2 innings of relief without allowing a base-runner and earning one strike out.
Hancock went 3-for-5 in the second game, scoring a pair of runs and collecting two RBI. Junior designated hitter Marcus Himelhoch (Portland, OR) turned in a solid offensive performance, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a double.
Redlands finished out the regular season with a 20-20 overall mark and a 13-15 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) record.