Big Inning Downs the Stags in Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Redlands Bulldogs scored nine times in the bottom of the third and while the Stags battled throughout the game, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps baseball team was unable to comeback and Redlands held on for the 14-9 victory. Patrick Gavin (CMC) got CMS on the board in the top of the second with a two-run homer to left center for his second career home run in just five games.

Playing as the home team at the neutral site, the Bulldogs got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. After two fly outs to open the frame, a walk and a single followed to put Bulldogs on first and second. An infield error allowed a run to score and later in the inning, CMS starter, Konnor Kwork (CMC), had to work out of a bases loaded jam to allow just one run.

CMS got the run right back in the top of the second when Gavin lifted a two-run homer to left center with two outs. The round tripper chased CJ Novogradac (CMC) home as well, after he tripled to center earlier in the inning.

The Stags added two more runs in the third when Kevin Nakahara (HMC) drove home a run on a ground out and Trey Smith (CMC) beat out an infield single.

With Redlands coming to hit in the bottom of the third, the Stags held a 4-1 lead. Redlands put runners on first and second with a single and a walk before a triple from Jordan Babitt scored two runs to pull Redlands within one at 4-3. The very next batter doubled to tie the game at 4-4.

Two singles and two walks later, Kwok was chased from the game with Redlands leading 6-4. The inning continued as the Bulldogs scored a total of nine runs in the stanza on seven hits. At the end of the frame, Redlands held a 10-4 lead.

After the Stags stranded two in the top of the fourth, Redlands added two more runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a sac fly and RBI single.

Trailing 12-4 heading into the fifth, CMS began chipping away at the Redlands' lead with one-run innings in the fifth and sixth. Henri Levenson (CMC) and Ryan Motter (CMC) drove home the runs with RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings, respectively. In the top of the seventh, an error allowed Alex Clemens (CMC) and Gavin to score and CMS pulled within four at 12-8.

In the eighth, the Stags continued to claw their way back into the game. Levenson drove home another run with an RBI double to right field and CMS trailed 12-9 heading to the bottom of the eighth.

Nick Ludwig (CMC) came on in relief in the third inning and settled into the game nicely, hanging zeros in the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to give CMS a chance to comeback. Pitching in his fifth frame, the Bulldogs got to Ludwig for two runs in the bottom of the eighth. The Redlands' runs made it a 14-9 game heading to the ninth.

CMS put a runner on in the top of the ninth, but a double play ended the game and the Bulldogs held on for the 14-9 victory.

While the loss does not hurt the Stags' SCIAC record, they do fall to 2-3 overall this season. CMS is next in action on Saturday when they take on Sul Ross St. at 5:00 p.m. in Tucson, Ariz.