Tigers Battle Back, But Drop Opening Pair

REDLANDS, Calif. (Feb. 23, 2008) – Occidental staged a seventh inning comeback in the second game of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference season opening double-header against the University of Redlands, but fell for the second time of the day as the Tigers dropped 7-4 and 2-0 decisions at The Yard today.

Oxy’s game one starter Matthew Jones went 7.2 innings, striking out three and walking none, but was credited with the loss as the Tigers were unable to score. Freshman second baseman Daniel Kelley collected a pair of hits for Oxy. Tiger DH Seth Goss, freshman shortstop Case Miyahira and Kelley each doubled and Miyahira added a stolen base, but Oxy couldn’t push anyone across the plate as they stranded five.

A scoreless game through five and half ended when the Bulldogs tagged Jones for a pair of runs on two solid hits (a double and a single) and a sac fly in the bottom of the sixth. Kieran Doherty came out of the pen to record the final out of the eighth for the Tigers.

Redlands’ Nolan Nicholson tossed a complete game, walking one striking out five for the win.

Things looked to be different in the first half inning of game two as Occidental jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Miyahira singled and stole second before coming home on a single to the right side by senior catcher Adam Franks. The Bulldogs hit Oxy starter Noel Banuelos hard, scoring three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first to take a lead they would not relinquish.

In the top of the eighth the Tiger bats woke up. Goss drew a walk to lead things off before Miyahira and Matt Andersen hit back-to-back singles. Goss and Miyahira rounded the bases on a double to right center off the bat of Franks. Junior transfer Ryan Falck then hit a fly ball to left, scoring Andersen to cut the deficit to 7-4, which would end up as the final.

Occidental’s freshman duo of Ross Pomerantz and Brooks Belter combined to throw 5.1 innings in relief. Belter retired the side in both the fifth and sixth innings, striking out a pair. Doherty came in to finish out the final 1.2, getting Redlands’  Brian Schumaker to ground into a 6-4-3 double-play to end the seventh. He finished the game with a 1-2-3 inning, striking out the final batter he faced.

The Redlands starter, Mike McCarthy threw 7.2 innings, getting the win, while Kevin Bissell came in to earn the save.

Occidental falls to 2-4, 0-2 SCIAC while the Bulldogs improve to 8-1, 2-0. The teams had game one rained out and will play on Tuesday at Anderson Field.