The University of Redlands softball team took to the road for
only the second time this season and came home with a doubleheader
sweep of Whittier College in Southern California Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action. The Bulldogs won the opening
game by a score of 7-1 and then squeaked out a tight 6-5 victory in
the nightcap.
In game one, Redlands faced an early deficit as the Poets put a run
on the board in the bottom of the first inning. However, the
Bulldogs responded with the tying run in the top of the third as
junior catcher Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA) knocked one out of the
park for her first homerun of the season.
Redlands gained the go-ahead run during the next inning off of an
RBI-single through the right side by junior designated player
Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA). Freshman third baseman Lindsey Henry
(Lake Elsinore, CA) led off the inning with a single to center
field and then a sacrifice bunt by freshman right fielder Breanna
Ruelas (Brawley, CA) moved her into scoring position.
The Bulldogs rattled off five insurance runs in the seventh inning.
Henry led the team with a two-RBI single to left field.
Junior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) earned the win from the
mound, scattering two hits and striking out six in seven innings of
action.
During the second game, Redlands again faced an early hole as it
gave up two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Nonetheless,
the Bulldogs took care of business in the top half of the second,
tying the game at two apiece.
However, Whittier stormed back with single runs in each of the
ensuing three innings.
Down 2-5, the Maroon and Gray rallied back in the top of the fifth
to tie the game with a three-run inning. After a fielder's
choice and a walk, Redlands looked to sophomore first baseman
Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA) to bring in a run off of a single up
the middle. Senior second baseman Dory Baga (Aiea, HI) then stepped
up to the plate and connected on a double to right center, plating
two runners to tie the game at five all.
The Bulldogs earned the winning run in the top of the sixth as
freshman left fielder Kirstie Bender (Lakewood, CA) singled to left
field and then freshman short stop Kai Masutani (Honolulu, HI)
posted a double to bring her home.
Doeppel pitched four solid innings but Ellis came in for the final
three to earn the win from the mound.
With the wins, the Redlands softball team (10-5, 8-2 SCIAC) now
sits atop the conference. The Bulldogs take a break from SCIAC
competition next week, with home doubleheaders against Pacific
Lutheran University (WA) and Linfield College (OR) on Tuesday and
Wednesday at 2 p.m.
