The University of Redlands baseball squad hosted a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader against the No. 7 Cal Lutheran University Kingsmen on Saturday at the Yard. The Bulldogs came to play, as they showed epic resiliency with a twin-bill sweep by taking the opener, 3-0, and then providing late-game drama in a 9-8 victory.
In game one, freshman hurler Matthew Acosta (San Bernardino, CA) was handed the ball for the start and down-right dominated by holding the Kingsmen scoreless in 7.2 innings of work. He also notched three strikeouts and scattered eight hits.
Redlands struck first in the bottom of the fourth inning, as freshman designated hitter Joey Warner (Indio, CA) plated senior shortstop Jordan Dresner (Etiwanda, CA) with a single through the left side.
Senior right-fielder Connor Hancock (Burbank, CA) continued Redlands' scoring trend in the bottom of the sixth inning by yanking a first-pitch fastball over the right-field wall to extend the Bulldogs' lead to 2-0.
Hancock again came up clutch an inning later with an RBI-groundout to the shortstop, scoring senior catcher Sean McMillan (Redwood City, CA) for the Maroon and Gray's 3-0 advantage.
The relieving duo of sophomore John White (Burbank, CA) and freshman Adam Stead (Rialto, CA) was lights out on the mound after combining for a shutout performance.
Freshman closer Noah Jones (San Bernardino, CA) shut the door in the bottom of the ninth to earn the save and help the Bulldogs to haul in an important victory.
Acosta (4-2) had everything working for him on the hill today by pitching out of multiple bases-loaded jams while stranding 12 Cal Lutheran baserunners and fanning three batters.
Hancock supplied the big bat of the game by registering a homerun and two RBI off of a 1-for-3 effort. Dresner registered a 3-for-3 performance with a run scored as well.
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs got off to a rough start after senior hurler Michael Collins (Upland, CA) allowed five runs in the first two frames. Nonetheless, the veteran buckled down over the next three innings and let the Bulldog offense dig him out of the early hole.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the bottom of the third, as Dresner blasted a no-doubter homerun over the right-field wall to trim the deficit to four runs.
Still trailing, Redlands looked to Hancock to capitalize on a bases-loaded opportunity by launching a two-out double to score junior outfielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA), Dresner, and McMillan.
After Collins retired three-of-four batters in the top of the fifth inning, sophomore second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA) unleashed a two-out double to right center, scoring junior first baseman John Keane (Clayton, CA) to tie it up at five apiece.
Although the Kingsmen extended their lead to 7-5 in the top of the sixth, the Maroon and Gray came back with vengeance. Junior center-fielder Christian Conci (San Mateo, CA) brought home McMillan on a single to left center. Warner and Kean followed suit by putting the ball in play and forcing a miscue by the Cal Lutheran defense, allowing two more runs to come around for Redlands' 8-7 advantage.
However, the back-and-forth drama continued, as the Kingsmen tied up the game at eight apiece in the bottom of the eighth.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, junior pinch-hitter Tyler Shreve (Redlands, CA) stepped up in a clutch moment by leading off the inning with a single through the right side. Shreve was lifted for freshman pinch-runner Nick Ono (Yorba Linda, CA), who later took second after a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from Kean. Finally, Samson dug into the box and came up with the game-winning hit, as he drove a single through the left side to score Ono for the Bulldogs' 9-8 walk-off victory.
After the game, Hancock and Samson shared their thoughts on the successful Saturday sweep.
Jones picked up the victory after a 0.1-inning appearance, while White and Stead combined for 3.1 innings out of the pen in a solid showing.
Samson, who notched the game-winning knock, went 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Hancock completed his monster day with a 2-for-3 showing with a double and three RBI.
The Bulldogs (16-7, 9-6 SCIAC) face Chapman University in SCIAC action on Friday, March 27, at the Yard. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.