The University of Redlands baseball team took on the Caltech Beavers in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on a beautiful, Friday afternoon at The Yard. Behind junior ace Felix Minjarez's (Riverside, CA) strong outing, the team knocked 14 hits and swiped six bases to secure the 16-1 win over Caltech.
As the starter, Minjarez fanned the first two batters, followed by a hit, but then quickly regrouped to strike out the clean-up batter.
Offensively, Redlands got off to a hot start by putting up six runs in the first inning. Two walks, followed by a hit-by-pitch, and another walk, Redlands jumped on the board first. With no outs and the bases still loaded, sophomore first basemen Brendan Moore (Murrieta, CA) stepped up and subsequently lined a single through the left side for two RBI. A sacrifice fly and two more base hits gave Redlands the 6-0 advantage as the teams headed into the top of the second.
Minjarez cruised through the next six Caltech batters, while Redlands extended its lead with three runs.
Although Caltech added one in the top of the fifth, Redlands came right back to put up three in the bottom of that inning. Junior second basemen Will Hall (Seattle, WA) took first off a hit-by-pitch and subsequently stole second and third base. A wild pitch and two singles later, the Bulldogs had added three runs for a 12-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, fresh bats entered the game for Redlands. The first two batters drew walks before senior centerfielder Christian Conci (San Mateo, CA) lined a base-knock up the middle to load the bases. With two outs, senior first basemen John Keane (Clayton, CA) pinch-hit for Moore and launched a bases-clearing triple to deep right-center for the 16-1 Redlands advantage.
Minjarez took care of business in the top of the seventh by fanning one batter and securing the 16-1 Bulldog victory in a run-rule shortened game of seven innings.
Collectively, the Bulldogs knocked 14 hits, including two triples, while also swiping six bases. Hall was credited with three of the stolen bases. Minjarez ended his complete-game win with nine strikeouts.
The Bulldogs (15-10, 6-4 SCIAC) head to Caltech tomorrow, March 25, for a SCIAC doubleheader. Game times are slotted for 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in Pasadena.
