The University of Redlands softball team suffered back-to-back
losses for only the fourth time in 44 games this season, dropping
1-2 and 0-1 decisions to the University of La Verne in today's
championship games of the 2010 Southern California Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Postseason Tournament. With the losses,
the Bulldogs now must hope for one of 18 at-large bids to the NCAA
Championships, which will be announced on May 10.
The Bulldogs defeated La Verne on Friday by a score of 6-3 and
then followed that up with an impressive 8-0 five-inning victory
over No. 13 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges to advance to
Saturday's title showdown.
After faltering in the first championship game, the Maroon
and Gray attempted to recover in the second game of the
double-elimination tournament but their bats fell silent to the
Leopards' strong pitching staff.
Saturday's competition was a true pitchers' duel with each team
garnering 10 total hits on the day. In addition, the opposing
defenses stepped up to make critical plays when they needed it
most, both supplying error-less play in the two games.
During the first game, Redlands recorded eight hits to La
Verne's five but left eight runners stranded in the 1-2 loss.
Senior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) shouldered the loss,
recording just her fifth of the season. She struck out four and
walked one.
Freshman left fielder Kirsten Milliner (Torrance, CA) provided
Redlands' sole RBI while going 3-for-4 from the plate. Sophomore
shortstop Kai Masutani (Honolulu, HI) went 3-for-3 with two
doubles.
Sophomore Breanna Ruelas (Brawley, CA) provided six strong
innings for the Bulldogs in the second game, giving up three hits
while sitting down seven batters.
However, La Verne hurler junior Delaney Baylor (Corona, CA)
quieted the Redlands bats by allowing just two hits and no runs in
the elimination game.
A single run in the top of third inning proved sufficient for
the Leopards, who gained the SCIAC's automatic bid to the NCAA
Championships with today's victories.
In earlier tournament action, Redlands' Ellis notched her 18th
win of the season from the circle while allowing five hits against
La Verne on Friday afternoon.
Sophomore third baseman Lindsay Henry (Lake Elsinore,
CA) connected on a solo home run to initiate the Bulldogs'
scoring in the first inning.
Following a run scored on a sacrifice fly in the fourth,
Redlands erupted with four runs in the fifth inning, which included
two-RBI singles by junior first baseman Lizett Casillas (Pomona,
CA) and senior designated player Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA).
Although the Leopards rallied for three runs in the top of the
sixth, the Bulldogs staved off their final efforts and earned the
6-3 victory.
Against the Athenas, Redlands put up two runs in the second and
then continued to pile them on with back-to-back three-run showings
in the third and fourth.
Ellis scattered three hits and fanned six batters to earn her
second win of the day. Masutani provided two RBI, while senior
catcher Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA) crushed her 20th career home
run for three RBI.
The Bulldogs (32-12, 21-3 SCIAC) now wait for the NCAA's
announcement regarding any playoff possibilities. Redlands has
advanced to the NCAA Championships each of the last five seasons,
earning an at-large bid in 2008.
