TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Redlands Baseball team ended their trip to the Tucson Cactus Classic over the weekend splitting with Bates College (W, 12-4) and Carleton College (L, 11-10) improving to 12-12, 4-8 SCIAC, while winning four of their last five.

Game 1 (Bates College; W, 12-4)
Redlands made it three straight wins in Arizona cruising to the 12-4 win over Bates College.

Bates jumped out in front 4-0 through the top-half of the fourth.  But that's where the U of R offense came alive with nine runs in their at-bats coming on seven hits, while using three errors to go in front for the first time.  Sean McCance (Irvine, CA) started the inning off with a double and then scored on a single from Nathan Miller (San Jose, CA).  Will Daniels (Crestline, CA) then reached on an error by the first baseman and Cade McClelland (Mission Viejo, CA) would sacrifice both runners over into scoring position with a groundball to third. 

Following another error on the infield that plated one Jake Burgess (Riverside, CA) stepped in and singled loading the bases, which led to a Will Cell (Seattle, WA) double that scored two.  Luke De Vries (Irvine, CA) kept the inning going with a single driving in a pair and moved up to second when Jared Anderson (Gilbert, AZ) reached on a throwing error by the shortstop.  McCance stepped in and doubled for the second time in the same inning bringing in another run and Miller would plate the eighth run with a sacrifice fly. 

The last run came in on a Daniels single that moved the score to 9-4.  In the fifth the Bulldogs added another run using a pair of singles from Cell and De Vries to extend the lead to 10-4.  The final two runs coming in the eighth thanks to two base hits from Patrick Perez (Ontario, CA) and Mason Chetcuti (Redwood City, CA). 

Kyler Bacosa (San Jose, CA) got the start and went 4.0 Innings giving up four runs on six hits to go with nine strikeouts.  Jakob Russell (Fontana, CA) came in relief to throw the final 5.0 Innings grabbing his second win on the season scattering four hits and striking out eight. 

De Vries finished 4-for-5 scoring a run and driving in three, McCance was 2-for-4 with three runs scored an RBI and two doubles, Cell was 2-for-4 scoring once and driving in two and Daniels was 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk. 
       
Game 2 (Carleton College; L, 11-10 | 10-Innings)
The Bulldogs took on Carleton for the second time during the trip but this go around would fall in extra-innings 11-10.  The
Maroon and Grey jumped all over Knights starter with a pair of runs in the second and third innings.  McCance led off the second with a triple to left field followed by a Perez triple to right.  Burgess then stepped in and grounded out on the infield plating the second run.

A pair of walks to start the third put Anderson and Miller on.  Daniels then sacrificed them over and McCance loaded the bases with another walk.  Perez kept the walk parade going with another that brought in one and Burgess again plated the second run this time with a fielder's choice.

After giving up a run in the top half of the fourth the U of R scored another four runs in the bottom half to extend the lead to 8-1.  With one out De Vries doubled to right field, which led to back to back doubles from Anderson and Miller with each scoring runs.  Daniels would then single to right bringing in another run and McCance would reach getting hit a pitch.  The very next batter Perez would single to left loading the bases and Burgess would then send a sacrifice fly to center bringing in the fourth run.

In the fifth and sixth innings the Bulldogs would see the Knights score eight, four in each inning to tie the game up.  The next three innings were scoreless on both sides sending the game into extras.  In the tenth the Knights scored two in their at-bats both coming on two outs to lead 11-9.  In the bottom half the Bulldogs tried to extend the game.  Cell was placed on second due to extra-inning international rules and he was brought in quickly thanks to a De Vries single cutting the deficit to one.  But that's as close as UR would get as a flyout and two groundouts would end the game.

Nathan Buchan (Mercer Island, WA) earned the start and went 4.1 Innings giving up five runs on 11 hits, while striking out three.  He left with the no decision.  Jack Brown (San Diego, CA) then came in relief and threw 1.1 Innings giving up only one earned run and John Hernandez (Fontana, CA) followed with 1.1 Innings of scoreless baseball.  The loss went to Perez who threw the final 3.0 Innings giving up two runs on four hits to go with three strikeouts. 

De Vries kept his hot bat going finishing 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.  Perez was 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI's, Cell was 2-for-5 scoring twice and Miller was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI's and a walk.     
           
Redlands returns to competition this weekend, Friday-Saturday, March 29-30 when they take on Chapman University for a three-game series.  The Bulldogs host the Panthers for a single game Friday, March 29 at 3:00pm before traveling to Orange County for a doubleheader on Saturday, May 30.