The No. 21 University of Redlands baseball team returned to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on Friday afternoon by facing off against the No. 22 Occidental College Tigers on the road in Eagle Rock. The Bulldogs had no problem putting down the Tigers, as they led wire-to-wire due to a complete showing of baseball to earn an 11-1 victory.
The Bulldogs wasted no time getting the bats rolling in the top of the first inning, as junior second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA) scored senior left-fielder Mitch Samson (Orangevale, CA) on a single up the middle to grab an early 1-0 advantage.
Sophomore hurler Felix Minjarez (Riverside, CA) climbed the hill for the game-one start and settled in immediately by recording three strikeouts in his first two innings of work.
Senior third baseman Mark Tumlinson (Anaheim, CA) cashed his RBI-check early in the top of the third inning by lacing a two-out, RBI-double into the right-center gap to score senior right-fielder Christian Gurrola (Torrance, CA) and senior first baseman John Keane (Clayton, CA) to expand the Maroon and Gray's lead to 3-0.
With Minjarez on cruise control through the following three innings that included a double-play ball and three more punch-outs, Redlands' offense continued to provide plenty of run support.
In the top of the sixth inning, junior catcher Kyle Wallau (San Mateo, CA) displayed solid patience at the dish by drawing a bases-loaded walk to score Tumlinson. Sophomore designated hitter Rainier Aguilar (San Bernardino, CA) came around to score on a wild pitch a batter later for the Bulldogs' 5-0 advantage.
After Minjarez retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth inning, Tumlinson did not simmer down at the plate the ensuing half inning by parking a three-run dinger over the left-field wall to give Redlands a commanding 8-0 lead.
Scalisi and Keane followed the next inning by recording consecutive RBI at-bats via sacrifice fly, along with junior center-fielder Christian Conci (San Mateo, CA) barreling an RBI-double to center field in the top of the ninth inning, leading to the visitors' 11-1 rout of the Tigers.
Tumlinson helmed the offensive attack by driving in five RBI and scoring three runs after going 3-for-5 with two doubles and a three-run jack. Conci and Gurrola each notched two hits.
Minjarez earned the victory after tossing seven innings and giving up a mere run off five hits while recording six strikeouts. Sophomore relievers Adam Stead (Rialto, CA) and Noah Jones (San Bernardino, CA) pitched the final two innings and allowed no baserunners or hits.
The Bulldogs (17-6, 10-3 SCIAC) complete the three-game series against Occidental in doubleheader action tomorrow at The Yard. Game times are set for 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.