The University of Redlands baseball team welcomed the University of St. Katherine to The Yard for a season-opening doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The Bulldogs battled in game one, matching each other run for run but ultimately fell, 6-8, in extra innings and then dropped the nightcap, 4-18.
Redlands struck first putting up one run in the bottom of the second on two singles and a Firebird miscue. But USK added two runs in the fourth and fifth to put the home team in a 1-4 hole.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs quickly regrouped and put up a four-spot in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead 5-4. After a leadoff walk, sophomore left fielder Jonah Advincula (Santa Clara, CA) laced a double to left-center. With runners on the second and third, the subsequent batter hit a grounder to deep second for an RBI. Now with two outs and a runner on, sophomore designated hitter Max Clark (Etiwanda, CA) sent a monster home run up the left-field netting to add two runs.
However, the Firebirds slowly chipped away at the deficit eventually taking back the lead in the top of the ninth. But the advantage didn't last long as Advincula rocketed a first-pitch homer way over the right-field wall for a 6-6 tie that eventually led to free baseball in the first outing of the 2021 season.
Unfortunately, USK tacked on two more in the tenth, resulting in a tough, 6-8, Bulldog loss.
The beginning of the second game went very similarly to the first as both teams traded scores early on for a 3-3 score after one. After a leadoff walk, Advincula sent a triple to the deep part of left-center for an RBI. One batter later, junior first baseman Mark Kirkland (Redlands, CA) stepped up and smashed a giant two-run home run for the 3-3 equalizer.
However, USK added 10 runs in the third, plus a couple more over the next few innings to hand the Maroon and Gray a 4-18 loss.
Redlands added a run on three hits and an error in the bottom of the third but it was not enough to overcome the Firebird offense in the top of that inning.
Advincula went 5-for-10 over the two games, with a home run, a triple, and two doubles. He scored three runs and two RBI.
The Bulldogs hope to flip the script when they welcome the Cal Lutheran Kingsmen to The Yard for a 3 p.m. single on Friday, April 9.
