Redlands, Calif. (3/13/13) – The University of Redlands used a four-run fourth inning to take the lead for good and top the Kean University baseball team by a final of 11-8 Wednesday afternoon.

The University of Redlands improves to 9-9 after already topping #18 Bridgewater College (Va.) earlier in the day in a ranked sweep at The Yard.  #8 Kean falls to 8-4 with one game remaining on their west coast swing.

It was a see-saw affair in the early part of the contest.  With the game knotted at five-all in the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs used four hits in the inning, including three triples to push ahead, 9-5. 

Down 10-5 heading into the eighth inning, the Cougars battled back, scoring three in the process.  Rookie Salvatore Taormina led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position as sophomore Andy Lopez walked.  That set up pinch-hitter Eric Fernandez who singled through the left side for his first collegiate hit and RBI in his first at-bat.  Freshman Matt Meleo kept the inning going with a single to load the bases.  Junior Tyler Smarslok brought home a run as he was hit-by-a-pitch putting the score at 10-8. 

Closer Josh Markler was able to seal his second save of the day by getting around a leadoff walk and a double in the ninth.

Offensively junior Joe O'Connor was 3-for-5 with two RBI and a double while sophomore Anthony Fischetti, Taormina, Lopez and Meleo all collected two hits apiece. 

Kean closes out their spring trip on Tuesday with a matchup at Whitter College at 2 p.m. local time.