The University of Redlands baseball team took the trip to Thousand Oaks on Thursday afternoon for a non-conference game against the No. 2 Kingsmen of Cal Lutheran University. Despite tying the game 5-5 in the top of the eighth, the Kingsmen tacked on three more runs in the bottom of that inning, sending Redlands home with a tough 5-8 loss.

Cal Lutheran struck first in the bottom of the first with three runs on four hits to jump to an early 3-0 lead. The leadoff Kingsmen batter also found his way on base in the top of the second, but a crafty pickoff play from sophomore starter Cameron Kundig (Redlands, CA) stymied their offense. But Cal Lutheran managed another run in the fourth for a 4-0 advantage.

Redlands' offense got going in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit in half. Sophomore center fielder Payton Walsh (Santa Ana, CA) drew a walk to lead off the inning. First-year second baseman Jonah Advincula (Santa Clara, CA) subsequently sent a bomb over the outfield wall to cut the gap to 2-4. Although the Bulldogs gained more baserunners, Cal Lutheran secured all three outs before the runners could come all the way around.

After another Kingsmen run in the bottom of that inning, the Bulldogs struck again in the top of the seventh. First-year designated hitter Max Clark (Etiwanda, CA) led off with a double. A couple of batters later Clark was sent home on a sacrifice fly for a 3-5 score.

With speed in the top of the eighth, Advincula laid down a bunt single for a runner on. Senior third baseman Anthony Acosta (Simi Valley, CA) then singled through the right side and because of an error on the right fielder, Acosta advanced to second and Advincula made it all the way home for a 4-5 score.

Sophomore first baseman Chris Hardin (Highland, CA) then hit an infield single before sophomore catcher Sammy Diaz (Palm Desert, CA) laced a double down the right-field line to score Acosta for the game-tying run, 5-5.

But the Kingsmen added three more in the bottom of the eighth to overtake the lead, 8-5.

In the top of the ninth sophomore short stop Max Smyley (Sarasota, FL), Walsh, and Advincula hit back-to-back-to-back singles to load the bases with only one out. However, Cal Lutheran shut down the inning, sending the Maroon and Gray home with a tough 5-8 loss.

Advincula, Walsh, Hardin, and Diaz had a multi-hit game.

Redlands (8-7, 3-2 SCIAC) welcome Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges back to The Yard for a non-conference game on Saturday, March 7, at 12 noon.