REDLANDS, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2009) – After eight innings the
Tigers were down 9-0, but in the top of the ninth Occidental pushed
a run across the plate, avoiding a Southern California
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opening game shut-out, and
breaking up a shutout by senior Nolan Nicholson.
While Redlands scored a pair in the first, adding two more in
the fourth, fifth and seventh (with one in the sixth) the Tigers
struggled for hits and base runners. Occidental got two men aboard
in the first inning, but both men were caught stealing, one at
second, the other at home, ending a threat of getting on the board
first.
The Tigers (9-2, 0-1 SCIAC) were retired in order during the
second, fourth and fifth innings as Nicholson (2-0) finished with
seven strikeouts, retiring the side in order in the second.
Kieran Doherty led off the third with a single to
the right side, but was left at second.
Second baseman Dan Kelley got things started in
the ninth for Oxy with his second hit of the game. He came around
to score when Jason Jebbia connected for a double,
giving the Tigers their only run of the game. After Kevin
Ozaki drew a walk and an out was recorded, Richie
Vehil singled to right. Instead of the bases loaded with
two outs, Oxy attempted to push a second run across the board and
Jebbia was thrown out at the plate by Corey Vane who fired a bullet
from the outfield to the plate ending the game.
Ross Pomerantz took the loss after tossing 5.2
innings, striking out three and allowing seven runs (six earned) on
seven hits. Nick Smallman came out of the pen to
toss the final 2.1 innings.
Redlands (2-2, 1-0 SCIAC) looked to Vane offensively as well, as
he went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI. UR's DH Manny Cardeiro
was 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, a run and an RBI. UR tagged
Oxy pitching for two triples and two doubles.
The series will conclude on Saturday when Redlands (2-2, 1-0
SCIAC) travels to Eagle Rock, Calif. to play Occidental (9-2, 0-1)
in a doubleheader at Anderson Field to conclude the season series
between the teams. First pitch is slated for 11:00
a.m.
