The University of Redlands baseball team faced the University of La Verne in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader on Saturday at the Yard. Despite leaving it all on the field, the Bulldogs fell short by scores of 2-8 and 7-8.
After the Leopards built a 4-0 lead through two innings, the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the third when senior shortstop Aaron Singh (Anaheim, CA) uncorked a bomb over the left-field fence.
Although La Verne put up another two runs in the sixth, Redlands continued to battle by pushing across one of its own in the bottom of the frame to make it 2-4. Following a pair of Bulldog hits, junior third baseman Anthony Acosta (Simi Valley, CA) touched home on a fielder's choice off first-year catcher Sammy Diaz's (Palm Desert, CA) bat.
Unfortunately, the Leopards kept the Bulldogs off the board for the remainder of the game to hand them a 2-8 loss.
Sophomore right fielder Cal Bridges (Fremont, CA) hit well with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.
During game two, La Verne got out to a 6-0 lead after five innings, but the Maroon and Gray began to claw their way back in the sixth with a strong defensive play. Sophomore pitcher Justin Yang (Fountain Valley, CA) entered the game and gained a sweet double-play by junior second baseman Andrew Renteria (Van Nuys, CA), Singh, and senior first baseman Brendan Moore (Murrieta, CA).
In the bottom of the sixth, Singh beat out the throw on a single to second base and then advanced all the way to third on a throwing error to get things going for the Bulldogs. Acosta capitalized with an RBI-single to right field for Redlands' first run of the game. Facing two outs, the Maroon and Gray loaded the bases, which allowed Acosta to make his way home on a walk, bringing the score to 2-6.
Although the Leopards pushed a run across in the top of the eighth, senior left fielder Eduardo Martinez-Razo (Rialto, CA) worked with Renteria, Singh, and Acosta to put a La Verne baserunner in a pickle for the third out.
This momentum transferred into the bottom of the inning, as Redlands scored four runs to cut the gap to 6-8. With two outs and two on, Singh remained composed at the plate and blasted a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to cut the deficit to two runs.
In the ninth, Bridges climbed the hill for a much-needed 1-2-3 inning. He then stepped up to the plate and knocked an RBI-double to right field, but it wasn't enough in the one-run loss for the Bulldogs.
Singh impressed with a 3-for-4 showing at the plate, including a double, to go along with two RBI and a run. Bridges also played well with two hits, two RBI, and a run.
Redlands (14-19-1, 8-10 SCIAC) returns home to face No. 22/24 Cal Lutheran University on Friday, April 19, at 3 p.m.
