REDLANDS, Calif. – After scoring four runs across the first two innings the University of Redlands Baseball team (10-7) was shutout the rest of the way as they dropped the series opener, 15-4, to Franklin and Marshall College (FMC) Saturday afternoon at The Yard.

Luke De Vries (Irvine, CA) scored the opening run for the U of R after the Diplomats allowed Mark Kirkland (Redlands, CA) to reach first base on a throwing error by their shortstop.

FMC responded in the second with a two-run single and a fielder's choice run. Redlands, though, came back to reclaim the lead, 4-3. Ian Umscheid (Beaumont, CA) scored on another error before Jake Burgess (Riverside, CA) and De Vries got a pair of two out RBI hits, including a triple and a single.  

After the nice offensive start, the Bulldogs managed only one hit the final seven innings, as they would fall 15-4.

De Vries had two of the five hits and three of the 10 total instances Bulldogs reached base via a hit, walk, or hit by pitch. Tyler Preece (Bellevue, WA) and Kirkland both drew walks, and Umscheid joined De Vries as the other Bulldog to reach base safely multiple times.

The Bulldogs and Diplomats decide the series winner tomorrow, Saturday, March 8 with a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. at The Yard.