The University of Redlands softball team could not get the ball past a stalwart No. 11 Linfield College (OR) defense as the Bulldogs bowed to the Wildcats in extra innings in game one, 1-3, before falling, 0-3, in the second contest at the Softball “Field of Dreams” on Wednesday.

Junior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) battled Linfield pitcher Kendra Strahm in the first matchup of the afternoon, and the two pitchers had their way with their opponents' offenses. Through seven, the score remained tied at zero, and the international rule of placing the last person retired from each team on second base to start the inning went into effect.

The Wildcats took advantage, accumulating three runs on three hits and an error in the top of the eighth. Junior catcher Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA), who was retired in the seventh due to a superb defensive play by the Linfield centerfielder, started the inning on second. Two consecutive outs to start the inning put Redlands in a hole, but senior second baseman/shortstop Dory Baga (Aiea, HI) lined a double to right center, plating Neumann. Despite filling up the count, freshman catcher/third baseman Lindsay Henry (Lake Elsinore, CA) was unable to get on base, and the Wildcats walked away victorious in the first bout.

Sophomore first baseman/outfielder Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA) supplied the lone multi-hit game for the Bulldogs as she went 2-for-4 at the dish.

Ellis pitched a complete game, going eight innings while allowing just one earned run on five hits. In addition, she struck out eight batters. Strahm notched the win for the Wildcats.

Game two featured much of the same as both teams' pitching and defense overpowered their opponents' offensive lineups.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs saw an opportunity to put a run across, but Linfield kept the Maroon and Gray at bay. Baga started the inning with a single up the middle, and then Henry walked, advancing Baga to second. Freshman pitcher/outfielder Breanna Ruelas (Brawley, CA) singled up the middle, but Wildcat pitcher Claire Velaski retired the next two batters to end the inning unscathed.

Linfield's corner outfielders saved Velaski in the fifth as Neumann and Casillas batted hard-hit balls to right field and left field, respectively, that would have ordinarily been extra-base hits.

Ellis threw three scoreless innings while junior pitcher/designated player Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA) pitched in relief and gave up two earned runs on seven hits.

Both teams left a myriad of runners on base in the second matchup as Linfield left 10 stranded while Redlands ended the game with a total of nine remaining on board.

Redlands (11-7, 8-2 SCIAC) looks to snap its three-game losing streak on Saturday as it meets up with the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges. The first pitch is scheduled for 12 noon at the Softball “Field of Dreams.”