The University of Redlands baseball team completed its three-game series against the Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Sagehens with a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader on Saturday. The Bulldogs struggled to make the most of their opportunities on offense while struggling on defense in a pair of losses, 8-12 and 0-3.
Although the Bulldogs came out swinging for five runs in the first three innings of the opening game, the Sagehens countered with a powerful offensive attack that notched 11 runs through four frames.
After junior third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Anaheim, CA) poked a one-out single up the middle in the top of the first inning, senior shortstop Jordan Dresner (Etiwanda, CA) drove a double to right field, plating Tumlinson. Senior center-fielder Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA) followed with an RBI-single to left field, scoring Dresner to grab a quick 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs notched three more runs over the following two frames, as junior left-fielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA) notched an RBI-single and RBI-double in consecutive innings, plating sophomore designated hitter Kyle Wallau (San Mateo, CA) each time.
Freshman Matthew Acosta (San Bernardino, CA) climbed the hill for his third start of the year and lasted just 3.1 innings while giving up 11 runs.
As the Bulldogs faced a 5-11 deficit, sophomore reliever John White (Burbank, CA) entered into the game in the bottom of the fourth frame and tossed a solid three innings, only giving up one run and fanning seven batters.
The Maroon and Gray trimmed down the deficit to four runs at 7-11 in the top of the fifth inning, as sophomore second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA) doubled down the left field line to score junior first baseman Ryan Franklin (Manhattan Beach, CA) and Samson.
Senior catcher Sean McMillan (Redwood City, CA) led off the top of the sixth with a solo round-tripper over the right-center wall to keep the deficit at four runs.
However, the Sagehens added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh to eventually secure a 12-8 victory.
Acosta (2-1) picked up the loss, while senior Josh Makler (Portland, OR) threw a scoreless ninth inning that included two strikeouts.
Samson notched a 3-for-3 showing after blasting a double to equal two RBI and two runs scored. Tumlinson continued his hot hitting by going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Bulldogs stranded eight runners after notching 15 hits in the contest.
In the nightcap, the Bulldog offense struggled to capitalize with runners in scoring position, as they stranded seven runners on base through the course of nine innings.
Senior hurler Michael Collins (Upland, CA) was handed the ball for the game-two start and held the Sagehen offense to a pair of runs on six hits while fanning six batters. Despite Collins' efficiency, the Bulldog bats struggled to spark an offensive rhythm and fell by a score of 0-3.
Freshman Adam Stead (Rialto, CA), freshman Noah Jones (San Bernardino, CA), and Makler combined to toss the final eight innings of the game while holding the opponents to just one run. Makler and Jones each recorded a strikeout in the process.
Samson continued his hot-hitting day at the dish by going 2-for-4 and reaching base three times.
Tumlinson followed in Samson's footsteps by notching a 2-for-4 effort as well.
Pomona-Pitzer's Jake Bruml went the distance on the mound, tossing a complete-game shutout.
The Bulldogs (6-3, 3-3 SCIAC) continue SCIAC action on Friday, February 27, when they travel to the University of La Verne for a 2:30 p.m. single game against the Leopards.