The No. 18 University of Redlands softball team wrapped up a stellar week of competition by capturing two solid victories over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action on Sunday. The Bulldogs gave up just one run in a combined 12 innings en route to a 7-1 performance in the first game and an 8-0 showing after five in the second.
During the opening contest, sophomore pitcher Kayla Uphold (Fontana, CA) gave up a single score in the first inning but then settled down to scatter a total of five hits while striking out a career-high six batters.
Freshman right fielder Amanda Lievanos (Anaheim, CA) equalized the early Sagehen run with a long ball to lead off the second inning.
After three scoreless innings, Redlands left no doubt with a six-run outburst in the top of the sixth, highlighted by Lievanos' second home run of the game. In addition, Uphold recorded an RBI-double to center field and then senior designated player/third baseman Aleisha Martinez (Escondido, CA) ripped a long single to score two runs.
The Bulldogs recorded an 8-0 shutout in the nightcap with freshman pitcher Gabrielle Sciuto (Poway, CA) producing a one-hit victory with a career-high nine strikeouts.
Redlands erupted for four runs in the opening inning with sophomore center fielder Sarah Beeman (Corona, CA), junior designated player/catcher Rikki Scates (Redlands, CA), and junior second baseman Molly Duran (Corona, CA) contributing RBI-singles.
The Bulldog offense continued to score in the second inning, as sophomore third baseman Kirsten Milliner (Torrance, CA) provided a well-timed sacrifice fly to bring home freshman short stop Amanda Clark (Riverside, CA) from third base. Lievanos added another run for the Bulldogs when she launched her seventh long ball of the season.
With Sciuto shutting down the opponents, the Bulldogs forced the eight-run into effect with a two-run outing in the fourth inning. With two outs and senior first baseman Stacey Burke (Glendora, CA) on third, Scates stepped up with a dinger of her own to score two runs.
Redlands (15-1, 8-0 SCIAC) enjoys a short break from competition before hosting the University of La Verne at the "Field of Dreams" in a conference doubleheader on Saturday at 12 noon.
