The University of Redlands softball team nabbed two important
victories over regional rival Chapman University on Wednesday night
at El Camino Real Park in Orange. The Bulldogs held onto an early
1-0 lead in the first game, eventually winning by a tally of 2-0.
The second game saw a more explosive Redlands offense that racked
up 13 hits for a 6-1 final.
The Maroon and Gray pitchers combined for four hits and 11
strikeouts on the evening.
In the opener, Redlands gained a run in the second inning when
sophomore designated player Breanna Ruelas (Brawley, CA) reached on
a fielder's choice that scored senior catcher Nicky Neumann
(Fremont, CA), who led off the inning with a double to left center.
The Panthers rallied with their only hit of the game in the
bottom of the fourth and then took advantage of a Bulldog error.
But the Redlands defense responded with a double play to end the
inning while extinguishing any scoring hopes for Chapman.
Going into the seventh inning, Redlands held a 1-0 lead and then
scored an insurance run when sophomore short stop Kai Masutani
(Honolulu, HI) singled to left field to plate Ruelas, capitalizing
off of her lead-off triple.
Senior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) faced just 22 batters
in seven innings of work in a one-hit performance while fanning
seven. With the win, she improves to 14-4 on the year.
Redlands erupted offensively during the nightcap, cranking out
13 hits and scoring six runs.
The Bulldogs struck in the top of the first when junior first
baseman Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA) provided a sacrifice fly to
score senior center fielder Kayla Peterson (San Jose, CA) from
third. Peterson led off the inning for the Bulldogs with a single
to right field and then advanced on a sacrifice bunt and a
fielder's choice.
The Maroon and Gray kept it rolling in the second inning with a
two-run performance. With two outs, Masutani and Peterson singled
before freshman short stop Kirsten Milliner (Torrance, CA)
connected on a triple to right field for two RBI.
Redlands put up one run in each of the subsequent innings,
taking a 5-0 lead after four. Sophomore right fielder Kirstie
Bender (Lakewood, CA) provided an RBI-single to score senior
designated player Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA) from second base.
During the fourth inning, Redlands strung together three hits,
including a triple by Masutani, who eventually came home on a
single by Milliner.
The Bulldogs took advantage of two Panther errors in the top of
the seventh, scoring their sixth run of the game. After Bender
moved all the way to third on a fielding error, sophomore second
baseman Molly Duran (Corona, CA) provided a sacrifice fly to center
to bring her home.
Chapman mustered one run in the bottom of the inning but
Redlands prevailed by a score of 6-1.
Ruelas earned the win from the circle, scattering just three
hits while striking out four.
Milliner led the Bulldog offense by providing three RBI on
2-for-4 batting. Masutani connected on two multi-bag hits and
scored twice.
Redlands (24-10, 15-3 SCIAC) returns home on Friday for a
Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)
doubleheader against Whittier College. First pitch is scheduled for
2 p.m. at the Softball "Field of Dreams".
