The University of Redlands baseball team closed out its four-game road trip by dropping the final three games of the Arizona Desert Classic over the weekend.  The Bulldogs battled it out with opponents from the competitive Northwest Conference while gaining early-season experience.

In Friday's contest, the Bulldogs fell to the Wildcats of Linfield College (OR), 3-15.  Errors plagued the Bulldogs early on, as four of the first five Linfield runs were unearned.  By the end of the fourth inning, it was 1-12, which ultimately proved too large of a whole to climb out of.  Senior right-fielder Marcus Himelhoch (Portland, OR) was the one bright spot for the Bulldog offense, tallying one hit and two RBI on the afternoon.

Saturday saw the Maroon and Gray stumble to the Lutes of Pacific Lutheran University (WA), 4-7.  In the losing effort, sophomore right-fielder Nathaniel Acosta (Chino Hills, CA) registered a career day, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two solo homeruns and three runs scored.  Behind the plate, freshman catcher Christian Heideger (Shoreline, WA) also experienced a great day at the dish, going 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored.  Down 3-7 heading into the ninth inning, the U of R pulled one run back but was unable to make up the remainder of the deficit.

In the final game of the road trip, Redlands led George Fox University (OR), 8-5, after six innings, but bullpen woes left the Bulldogs looking at an 8-13 defeat after the final out of the game was recorded.  Sophomore shortstop Jordan Dresner (Etiwanda, CA) experienced his best day in a Bulldog uniform so far, tallying two hits and three RBI.  Also having a big day at the plate was senior second baseman Jason Henning (Redlands, CA) as he racked up three hits, two runs scored and one RBI.  Additionally, freshman third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Topeka, KS) recorded his first two-hit performance with Redlands while crossing the plate once as well.

The U of R (1-3) begins its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) campaign on Friday, February 15, when it takes on the University of La Verne.  The Bulldogs play the Leopards on the road on Friday before returning home on Saturday for the first doubleheader of the year at The Yard, which begins at 11 a.m.