The University of Redlands baseball team took to the diamond to complete a three-game series against the Whittier College Poets on Saturday for a doubleheader. The Bulldogs had everything in their arsenal firing on all cylinders, as quality pitching, hitting, and defense carried them to two victories by the final scores of 4-1 and 12-2 (8 inn.).
In game one, the Bulldogs struck first by pushing across one run in the top of the first inning. Sophomore center-fielder Christian Conci (San Mateo, CA) came around to score after senior third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Anaheim, CA) smacked a double to left field.
Senior hurler Michael Collins (Upland, CA) was slotted as the starter for game two of the series and performed very well. Despite allowing an unearned run to cross the dish in the bottom half of the first inning, Collins settled in and blanked the Poets for the ensuing five innings while scattering six hits and fanning four batters.
The Bulldogs tossed up a three-spot in the top of the sixth inning to pull away from the Poets. Tumlinson continued to swing the bat really well, as he led off the frame with a solo round-tripper. Senior first baseman Ryan Franklin (Manhattan Beach, CA) followed by sending a sacrifice fly out to right field, scoring senior right-fielder Christian Gurrola (Torrance, CA), who reached on a single. Freshman shortstop Aaron Singh (Anaheim, CA) capped off the scoring for the Bulldogs by poking a single up the middle, plating sophomore catcher Rainier Aguilar (San Bernardino, CA) for Redlands' 4-1 lead.
The Bulldog bullpen took care of the rest, as Collins handed the pitching duties over to junior reliever John Keane (Clayton, CA). He tossed a dominating two frames that included three strikeouts while giving up a mere hit. Sophomore closer John White (Burbank, CA) earned the save by chucking a scoreless ninth inning while fanning two batters en route to a 4-1 victory.
In game two, the Bulldogs wasted no time and hopped on the board early by plating nine runs over the first three frames.
Scalisi kicked off the offensive outburst for the Bulldogs with a sacrifice ground-out to the second baseman, scoring senior left-fielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA). Tumlinson followed a batter later and reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Gurrola to score for the 2-0 advantage.
After the Poets snagged one run in response, Franklin led off the top of the second inning with a three-bagger and came around to score off a Singh single. Singh quickly crossed home plate to score on a Poet error. Tumlinson continued to act as an RBI-machine by launching a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Samson for the Maroon and Gray's 5-0 lead.
The Bulldog bats remained hot in the top of the third inning, as Singh struck again by sending a sacrifice fly out to left field, scoring Conci, who reached base on an infield single. Gurrola dug in with two outs in the inning and sent a ball soaring over the left-field wall for a three-run homer to hand the Bulldogs a commanding 7-0 lead.
Senior Kevin Stevens (Highland, CA) was awarded the start in the final game of the series. After allowing two runs in the first two innings, he settled down for the following three frames to blank the Poets en route to five strikeouts.
The Bulldogs added three more runs in the following innings, with two coming via sacrifice flies from sophomore designated hitter Joey Warner (Indio, CA) and Aguilar in the top of the sixth. Senior left-fielder Nathan Bowker (Edmonds, OK) tacked on another run after poking a single to center field, scoring sophomore shortstop Brendan Gardiner (Mission Viejo, CA) for Redlands' 12-2 lead.
Sophomore reliever Adam Stead (Rialto, CA) came in and slammed the door by chucking three scoreless innings while recording two strikeouts and allowing just two hits en route to an eight-inning, mercy-rule victory.
Gurrola had a solid day by going a combined 5-for-8 with three RBI, three runs scored, and a three-run dinger. Scalisi had an equally as impressive day by going 5-for-9 with two runs scored and an RBI.
The Redlands' pitching staff allowed a mere three runs to the Poets over the course of 18 innings, with Collins and Stevens earning today's victories. A bullpen consisting of Keane, White, and Stead allowed zero runs and struck out a combined seven batters.
The Bulldogs (5-3, 3-0 SCIAC) continue conference play by facing off against the Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Sagehens on Friday, February 26, in a 2:30 p.m. showdown in Claremont.