The University of Redlands baseball team headed to Whittier College for its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener against the Poets on Friday afternoon. Although Whittier struck first, the Bulldogs rallied back to a 6-3 conference win.
Sophomore pitcher Cameron Kundig (Redlands, CA) climbed the hill for the Maroon and Gray for game one of a three-game series against Whittier. Although the Poets reached base in the first, Kundig pulled off a crafty pick-off play to get the runner at second for the second out. He put trust in his defense to take care of the third out.
Kundig went 1, 2, 3 over the next three innings that included four Ks, but Whittier managed to put one run on two hits in the bottom of the fourth to take a slight lead.
However, Redlands used this to fuel its fire, picking up their pitcher, and putting up a crooked number in the top of the fifth.
With one out and the bases loaded, sophomore shortstop Max Smyley (Sarasota, FL) roped a single to center field to knot the score at 1-apiece. A subsequent sacrifice fly and a Poet miscue added two more runs for the Bulldogs. Senior third baseman Anthony Acosta (Simi Valley, CA) sent Smyley home on a single up the middle for a 4-1 advantage after 5.5 innings.
Kundig continued to deal, going three up, three down, and striking out the final batter to put Redlands back on offense quickly.
Sophomore designated hitter Chris Hardin (Highland, CA) walked to lead off the top of the sixth. After two quick outs, sophomore catcher Sammy Diaz (Palm Desert, CA) took the Whittier pitcher yard with a two-run home run to left to take a 6-1 lead.
Despite the fact the Poets tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, Hardin and junior right fielder/pitcher Cal Bridges (Fremont, CA) subsequently combined for 2.1 scoreless innings from the mound to take a solid, 6-3, victory.
Diaz went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double for two RBI and two runs while Kundig was credited with the win with six strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Bridges also had a good day on both sides of the ball, going 2-for-5 with a double and a run while also securing the save.
The Bulldogs (4-4, 1-0 SCIAC) return to The Yard for a doubleheader against Whittier on Saturday, February 22, starting at 11 a.m.