Baseball Loses a Slugfest

Occidental came up short in game one of a SCIAC doubleheader April 14, losing to Redlands 15-12 at The Yard in Redlands, Calif. The Tigers lost 6-3 in game two and slipped to 16-18 overall, 6-9 in SCIAC play. Redlands, the defending league champion, improved to 23-11, 9-6.

Redlands mounted an 11-run rally in the fourth inning, scoring seven runs with two outs. The Bulldogs hit five doubles in the inning, two with the bases loaded, and sent 14 hitters to the plate.

The Tigers, who held an early 3-0 lead, fought back with two runs in the sixth and four in the seventh but Redlands tacked on four more in the last two innings to preserve the win.

Occidental matched Redlands with 16 hits in the contest. Donald Baarns '10 and Matt Andersen '08 went three for five while Glenn Gray '10 and Adam Franks '08 recorded two hits apiece. Richard Viehl '09 collected four runs batted in with a two-run single, a sacrifice fly, and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. Eight of the Tigers' starters logged at least one hit.

The Tigers walked four batters in the game and committed one error in a scoreless sixth inning.

Redlands pitcher Kyle Gardner, the 2006 SCIAC Player of the Year, overcame a shaky start to lead the Bulldogs in game two. The Tigers scored two runs on seven hits over the first four innings but were then shut out until Ryan Seifert relieved Gardner in the ninth.

Franks, who went three for five with two runs scored, smacked a two-out double to right field in the ninth to score Seth Goss '08. Anthony Ciardelli '10 and Marcus Stoiber '09 combined for four scoreless innings in relief.

Occidental hosts Pomona-Pitzer (23-10, 10-5 SCIAC) this Friday, April 20 at 3pm at Anderson Field and travels to Claremont, Calif. for a 11am doubleheader with the Sagehens on Saturday. The Tigers lost to Pomona-Pitzer 15-2 at the California Classic March 11.