LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2009) – The Tigers and
Bulldogs took to the field again today in conference action with
the results similar to those of the opening game on the road
yesterday. Occidental was defeated twice by the #19 ranked
University of Redlands, dropping game one 8-5 before being
outscored 10-1 in the series finale.
While Occidental collected two more hits (nine) than Redlands,
in game one, the long ball hurt the Tigers.
Redlands (4-2, 3-0 SCIAC) used a pair of homeruns off the bat of
Jefre Johnson, who drove in a combined six runs, and a two-run shot
from centerfielder Josh Snyder to earn the victory. Michael Lessig
was the winning pitcher after throwing 5.0 innings, striking out
five Tigers and scattering four hits.
Oxy second baseman Daniel Kelley connected for
a two-run homerun to left field in the bottom of the eighth inning
to pull the Tigers to 8-5, but that was as close as they would get.
Senior catcher Spencer Woolwine scored two of
those runs as he was 1-for-2 with a walk and was hit by a pitch.
Kelley finished with three RBIs.
Starting pitcher Matthew Jones was tagged for
seven hits and eight runs (four earned) while striking out three.
Brooks Belter came on in relief in the sixth
inning and struck out three men over 2.2 innings, retiring the side
in order in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Game two looked promising at the beginning as Oxy jumped out to
an early 1-0 lead when Casey Harms dove safely
home on a single by Kelley in the third inning. Harms led off the
inning with a walk and quickly stole second base. That was as much
offense as the Tigers would see on the afternoon as only one play
reached third base for the remaining six innings.
While Oxy could not get much going right, the Bulldogs had
everything falling in their favor. They combined for 17 hits and
pushed five runs across the plate in the top of the fourth inning,
thanks to a three run homerun off the bat of Evan Dunn. In the next
inning he drove in two more. UR added two runs in the sixth and one
more in the eighth to total 10.
Occidental (9-4, 0-3 SCIAC) starter Noel
Banuelos lasted just 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on
eight hits while striking out three. Belter again got the ball in
the third for Oxy and he lasted just 1.2 innings as he surrendered
four runs on four hits. He and Tyler Eyrich struck
out two batter apiece in the loss. Kieran Doherty
tossed a scoreless ninth for the Tigers after collecting a pair of
singles as the first baseman.
Jason Jebbia and Kelly each had two hits in the
second game as well.
Jordan Snyder was the winning pitcher, tossing 5.0 innings,
allowing just one run on four hits while striking out seven.
The Tigers will be back on the diamond next
Friday afternoon, Feb. 27, when they host Pomona-Pitzer for a
single game at 2:30 p.m. on Anderson Field.
