The University of Redlands baseball team kept its busy schedule rolling by hosting Southern Vermont College in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday at the Yard. With a well-rounded effort, the team edged the Mountaineers in game one, 8-6, but the Bulldog bats came alive in the nightcap for 21 hits and 18 runs.
Senior pitcher Michael Collins (Upland, CA) was handed the pearl for the opening game. After he gave up one run in the first inning, he settled down to retire the next 10 batters in order while only giving up one hit and striking out three.
After sophomore first basemen Brendan Moore (Murrietta, CA) doubled to left center to lead off the fourth inning, junior right fielder Jordan Babbitt (Highland, CA) provided a hard-hit shot to shortstop, which allowed Moore to sneak in for the score. Shortly after, sophomore shortstop Aaron Singh (Anaheim, CA) launched a home run to left field for the Bulldogs' 2-1 lead.
Although Southern Vermont equalized the score in the top of the fifth, Redlands immediately went back to work with the middle of the order up again. Moore drew a two-out walk before Babbitt tripled to deep, left center to send Moore home. Singh subsequently doubled down the left-field line to plate Babbitt to put Redlands up by a score of 4-2.
The home team added two more in the sixth and one in the seventh to stretch its advantage. However, two Bulldog errors in the top of the eighth allowed the Mountaineers to plate two runs and inch closer at closing the hole.
After a one-run bottom of the eighth for the Bulldogs, senior pitcher John White (Burbank, CA) was called in to finish the ninth. White secured the first two outs before giving up three hits and a walk for two Southern Vermont scores. With the Mountaineers' go-ahead run at the plate and two runners on, White put trust in his defense to make the last out in right field for an 8-6 Bulldog victory.
During the second game, senior pitcher John Keane (Clayton, CA) climbed the hill for Redlands. Much like the first game, the visiting squad plated one run in the top of the first for the early lead.
However, the Mountaineer lead did not last long, as the Bulldogs laced together seven hits for six runs in the bottom of the first, as highlighted by Moore's single up the middle to plate two runs.
Redlands' hit-parade was not over, as the home team knocked in six more runs in the bottom of the second. Junior designated hitter Joey Warner (Indio, CA) sent a triple along the right-field line for two RBI, immediately following Babbitt's two-RBI single.
The Mountaineers' pitching woes continued, as they gave up six more runs for an 18-1 Redlands advantage through six innings.
Keane pitched the top of the seventh and secured the last three outs to hang onto to the complete-but-shortened-game victory.
As the starters in each game, Collins and Keane ended the day with six strikeouts apiece. Singh had a great day at the plate by going 5-for-6 with three doubles and a home run for five RBI and two runs. Babbitt also chipped in five RBI.
The Bulldogs (13-9) take on non-conference competitor Williams College (MA) on Monday, March 20, for a 3 p.m. start at The Yard.
