The University of Redlands baseball team finished out a three-game series with a Saturday doubleheader against the Cal Lutheran University Kingsmen in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action in Thousand Oaks. With plenty of free baseball played on the day that included a total of 21 innings, the Bulldogs took home two extra-inning victories that saw quality pitching performances and clutch displays of hitting in victories reading 2-1 (10 inn.) and 5-3 (11 inn.) at day's end.
In game one, senior pitcher Michael Collins (Upland, CA) was awarded the start and helmed the Bulldogs by not allowing a Kingsmen hit through eight innings. Through his seven hitless innings, Collins fanned seven batters and utilized a defense that provided incredible plays to back up his dominant efforts.
The Bulldogs struck first on the offensive front in the top of the third inning after senior left-fielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA) led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. He quickly advanced to third base via wild pitch and touched home shortly after on an RBI-double off the bat of senior first baseman John Keane (Clayton, CA) for Redlands' 1-0 lead.
Despite allowing a mere hit up through eight innings, the Kingsmen began to threaten in the bottom of the ninth inning and found themselves with runners on first and second with one out. Junior reliever John White (Burbank, CA) lifted Collins but allowed the game-tying run to cross the dish, sending the game into extra innings.
Nevertheless, Redlands immediately struck back in the ensuing inning. Senior center-fielder Nathan Bowker (Edmonds, OK), who entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning as a defensive replacement, dug in and drove a two-out, RBI-double to center field, which scored senior third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Anaheim, CA) for the team's 2-1 advantage.
White shut the door in the bottom of the 10th inning, ending with a recorded strikeout to seal the deal.
Collins was electric on the mound by tossing 8.1 innings, allowing just two hits, and striking out five batters. White earned the win after tossing 1.2 innings and allowing a mere baseknock.
Samson went 2-for-4 with a double, while freshman shortstop Aaron Singh (Anaheim, CA) notched a 2-for-4 day as well. Bowker and Samson were responsible for the two RBI, as they each drove one in.
In game two, senior hurler Kevin Stevens (Highland, CA) was tossed the pearl for the start in the deciding game of the series. He got off to a hot start by blanking Cal Lutheran through the opening three innings during which he notched four strikeouts.
However, the Kingsmen struck first with two-consecutive RBI-knocks in the bottom of the fourth inning, putting the Bulldogs in a whole at 0-2.
Redlands remained consistent with its approach, as the Bulldogs grabbed the lead in the top of the sixth inning. After Samson laced a double down the right-field line to lead off the inning, he came around to score two batters later, compliments of an RBI-single off the stick of junior second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA). Tumlinson put the Bulldogs on top by launching a two-run dinger over the left-field wall two batters later, scoring Scalisi and putting the Bulldogs ahead, 3-2.
However, the Bulldogs booted the ball around the infield in the eighth inning, allowing a run to come across the plate and tie the game at three-apiece, and eventually force extra innings for the second time on the day.
In the top of the 11th inning, Keane dug his spikes deep into the box and decided to put an end to the rollercoaster type contest by launching a no-doubt-about-it solo shot over the right-field wall that cleared the second net used to protect the CLU tennis courts, grabbing a 4-3 advantage for the Bulldogs. Tumlinson continued to boast a flare for the dramatic by sending a pitch over the left-field wall for the second time of the day, handing the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead.
White came in and sealed the deal once again by utilizing his defense for three quick outs en route to a 5-3 victory and a doubleheader sweep.
Tumlinson highlighted the game-two efforts by delivering two homeruns - the first being a two-run homerun and the second acting as a solo shot. Keane's lone knock was the go-ahead homerun in the top of the 11th inning. In addition, he earned the victory on the mound after chucking 2.2 innings in relief while allowing just one hit and fanning two Kingsmen batters.
Stevens recorded a career-high nine punch-outs while tossing 7.1 innings and allowing just six hits and two runs.
The Bulldogs (12-6, 9-3 SCIAC) take a brief break from conference play to face off against the Rutgers University-Newark Scarlett Raiders at home on Monday, March 14. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. at the Yard.
