Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. - The Whittier College Baseball team opened up Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play Friday against the University of Redlands and despite a back and forth battle the Purple & Gold couldn't come away with the win falling 6-3.
Whittier has now dropped three in a row moving to 2-4, 0-1 SCIAC, while Redlands improves to 4-4, 1-0 SCIAC.
After four scoreless innings the Poets would finally strike in the 5th. Jacob Bauer (Pleasanton, Calif.) started things off with a single to left center and then advanced to third two batters later following a Devon Robinson (Soquel, Calif.) base knock through the left side. The bases then got loaded after Brandon Lara-Mack (San Gabriel, Calif.) would draw a walk and River Danner (Seal Beach, Calif.) would add the first RBI on the day with a groundout to the shortstop.
This lead though wouldn't hold however as UR would strike in the 6th with four runs on three hits and an error. They forced Poet starter Dante Mancia (La Mirada, Calif.) out of the game who went 5.1 Innings giving up three runs on five hits. Arturo Escandon came in relief and threw the next 2.2 Innings but also struggled giving up three runs on three hits.
Trailing 6-1 in the bottom half of the 7th, Whittier put together a late rally sparked by Bauer who doubled down the left field line. Two batters later Robinson beat out a throw on the infield that allowed him to reach and Bauer to score. Lara-Mack then drew a walk and Danner and Jarryd Samsing (Buckeye, AZ) came up clutch with a pair of singles that got the Poets within three.
In the 8th WC tried to put together another rally with Justin Ryan (Riverside, Calif.) and Dane Goodman (Ross, Calif.) adding base hits with nobody out, but it would end as UR would go 1-2-3 to end the threat.
Mancia was charged with the loss as he drops to 0-2 on the season. Redlands starter Cameron Kundig earned the win going 6.2 Innings with three runs earned and six strikeouts, while Cal Bridges picked up his second save of the season.
Bauer finished the day 2-for-4 scoring twice. Robinson was 1-for-4 with an RBI and Alexander Jelloian (Chatsworth, Calif.), Goodman, Danner, and Samsing would each put up 1-for-4 efforts.
Whittier wraps up the series today, Saturday, February 22 on the road as they take on the University of Redlands for a doubleheader. First pitches slated for 11:00am and 2:30pm.
