Senior pitcher Michael Lessig (Fountain Hills, AZ) scattered two
hits and allowed one run in seven innings of work on the mound,
leading the University of Redlands baseball team past Occidental
College, 4-2, in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (SCIAC) action Friday afternoon in Eagle Rock.
After three scoreless innings, the visiting Bulldogs posted two
runs in the top of the fourth. Senior catcher Jefre Johnson (Canby,
OR) was hit by a pitch to start the frame, and graduate student
designated hitter Brett Sandford (Santa Barbara, CA) reached on an
error by the second baseman in the ensuing at bat, advancing
Johnson in the process. Graduate student first baseman Matt Hughes
(Westminster, CA) moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt,
putting them in scoring position. Johnson scored off of a
groundout, while Sandford had the wherewithal and speed to score on
a wild pitch.
Senior centerfielder Will Wetmore (Santa Cruz, CA) pushed across
sophomore third baseman Cameron Lowe (Olympia, WA) by means of a
sacrifice fly in the fifth, giving Redlands a 3-0 lead.
The Tigers scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth to
trim the Bulldogs' advantage to two. Redlands, however, would
regain the three-run cushion in the seventh when Lowe crossed the
plate on a bases-loaded walk taken by Johnson.
Jason Jebbia homered to lead off the bottom of the ninth, giving
hope to Occidental's potential rally. Daniel Kelly singled
down the leftfield line, bringing the potential game-tying run to
the dish. Senior pitcher Jack Winters (Oradell, NJ), however,
settled in, retiring three consecutive batters to end the
contest.
In addition to yielding just two hits and one run, Lessig struck
out a game-high four batters. He moves to 4-1 with the victory.
Winters picked up his third save this year after his ninth-inning
appearance.
The Tigers' two defensive miscues keyed a losing outing for
Cory Popham, who pitched a complete game. Popham, despite
scattering seven hits, allowed four runs, none of which were
earned. That loss served as Popham's first on the season.
Seven different Bulldogs reached safely on base knocks, but no one
compiled more than one hit.
Redlands (10-2, 8-2 SCIAC) hosts the Tigers tomorrow in a SCIAC
doubleheader at The Yard. The first pitch of game one is slated for
11 a.m.
