The University of Redlands softball team kicked off the 2010
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)
season with two victories over Cal Lutheran University on Saturday
at the “Field of Dreams.” The Bulldogs defeated the
Regals by a score of 4-1 in the first game and then mustered a 7-5
comeback win in the nightcap.
The Maroon and Gray scored two runs in the first inning of the
opening game and never looked back en route to the 4-1 victory.
Senior catcher Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA) belted an RBI-single to
score freshman Kirsten Milliner (Torrance, CA), who reached by
beating out the throw on a single to second base. A few plays
later, sophomore third baseman Lindsay Henry (Lake Elsinore, CA)
came home on a sacrifice fly to left field by sophomore first
baseman Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA).
After giving up a run in the fourth on a strange hit over first
base, the Bulldogs rallied back for two more runs, highlighted by
senior designated player Amanda Doeppel's (Monrovia, CA) home
run over the left field fence in the sixth inning.
Senior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) threw seven innings and
allowed three hits to earn the win from the mound. She walked one
and struck out five in 26 batters faced.
During the night cap, Redlands put up three runs on the board in
the first inning with Casillas, Neumann, and sophomore pitcher
Breanna Ruelas (Brawley, CA) providing RBI for the Bulldogs.
However, the Regals fought back with two runs in the fifth off of
two Redlands errors to make it a one-run game.
In the bottom of the inning, the Bulldogs appeared to solidify
their lead when sophomore second baseman Kai Masutani (Honolulu,
HI) connected on an RBI-single to right center to score sophomore
pinch runner Kirstie Bender (Lakewood, CA) from second base.
Despite facing a two-run deficit, Cal Lutheran clawed its way back
into the game with a three-run outburst with two outs in the top of
the sixth to take the lead at 5-4.
Not to be outdone, the Maroon and Gray put up three of its own for
an exciting comeback and the 7-5 victory over the Regals. After
Henry singled through the left side, Neumann brought her home on a
triple to right center. The Regals attempted a fielder's
choice on the ensuing play but Neumann beat out the throw at home
for the Bulldogs' second run of the inning. Ruelas then
provided an RBI-single up the middle to score freshman left fielder
Sarah Beeman (Corona, CA) from second base.
Ruelas threw five solid innings from the mound before Doeppel came
in as the relief pitcher to earn the win in just two innings of
work.
Overall, the Bulldog offense gained four hits, three RBI and two
runs from Neumann. Senior center fielder Kayla Peterson (San Jose,
CA) went 4-for-7 with two runs.
Redlands (3-3, 2-0 SCIAC) hosts the University of La Verne in a
SCIAC doubleheader on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for
12 noon at the “Field of Dreams.”
