The 19th-ranked University of Redlands softball team escaped with a doubleheader split against Northwest Conference opponent Pacific Lutheran University (WA) on Thursday at the "Field of Dreams." The Lutes brought their typical rainy and windy weather to Redlands before earning a 5-1 victory over the Maroon and Gray. The Bulldogs bounced back in the nightcap to snatch the win by a score of 7-6.

In the first match-up, the Bulldogs started slow out of the gate, falling early to the Lutes' persistent offense. PLU posted five runs in the first two frames while capitalizing on several Bulldog errors.

UR sprayed six hits throughout the game but pushed across just one run when junior left fielder Kirstie Bender (Lakewood, CA) provided the lone Bulldog RBI on a single through the left side. She brought home junior second baseman Molly Duran (Corona, CA), who reached on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning.

Sophomore pitcher Kayla Uphold (Fontana, CA) tossed the full seven innings for the Bulldogs, allowing five runs though none of them were earned.

Redlands turned things around in the second contest, ripping off three first-inning runs.

The Bulldogs pushed their advantage to 7-1 after a four-spot in the bottom of the fourth.

However, the Lutes made a late come-from-behind effort by driving home a pair of runs in the fifth and two in the seventh.

But it wasn't enough to overtake the Maroon and Gray pitching staff. Picking up the win for Redlands, rookie hurler Gabrielle Sciuto (Poway, CA) threw four solid innings while allowing three runs on four hits and striking out two. Junior reliever Breanna Ruelas (Brawley, CA) fanned two batters in the final three innings.

Four different Bulldogs collected multiple hits in the game, including a three-hit performance by Uphold. Freshman shortstop Amanda Clark (Riverside, CA) posted the Maroon and Gray's only extra-base hit with a double to lead off the game.

Redlands (24-8, 12-4 SCIAC) returns to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action on Saturday when it hosts Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in a 12 noon doubleheader.