Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The 14th-ranked University of Redlands softball team unleashed 30 hits and scored 20 runs to defeat the visiting Bruins of George Fox University (OR) in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday. The Bulldogs put together an 8-2 victory in the opener before firing off a 12-6 victory in come-from-behind fashion in the night cap.
After two scoreless innings to start the day, Redlands put up a three-spot in the third to take an early lead in the first game. With a trio of singles pushing runs across, the big play of the frame came on senior center-fielder Sarah Beeman's (Corona, CA) bat, as she rocketed a hit up the middle to plate sophomore second baseman Amanda Clark (Riverside, CA) and freshman right-fielder AJ Carrasco (Whittier, CA).
Although the Bruins pulled one back in the fourth, the Maroon and Gray answered with two more in the bottom of the fifth, as Clark and Beeman recorded RBI-singles.
George Fox mustered another run in the sixth, but the Bulldogs' bats continued to make contact through the sixth stanza, scoring three more en route to the 8-2 tally. Carrasco's double highlighted the inning, as she kept the two-out rally alive with the only multi-bag hit of the game for the Bulldogs.
Senior pitcher Kayla Uphold (Fontana, CA) recorded her 11th win of the season by throwing seven innings and scattering five hits. In addition, she fanned nine Bruins, for the second-highest output of her Bulldog campaign.
Beeman led the offense with three RBI, which came off two hits, while Clark added two RBI and two runs scored on three hits. Uphold was 3-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI.
Freshman short stop Kayla Anderson (Boise, ID) headlined the Bruin offense with her home run in the sixth inning.
After falling behind by four early in the second game, Redlands rallied back for a six-run outburst in the bottom of the third while taking advantage of three George Fox miscues. During that stanza, the Bulldogs connected on six hits, with Beeman, sophomore designated player/pitcher Nikoli Sharp (Lincoln, CA), and sophomore third baseman Linda Park (Torrance, CA) all providing RBI.
However, the Bruins eventually tied it up at six apiece with single scores in the fourth and fifth innings.
Once again, the Maroon and Gray quickly responded, unleashing another six-spot in the bottom of the fifth. While going completely through the order, Redlands amassed eight hits, with Clark highlighting the effort with a stand-up, bases-clearing triple late in the inning.
Watch Clark's three-bagger here.
The Bulldogs closed out the 12-6 victory with Sharp in the circle for her third win of the season. She tossed five innings and fanned three.
Clark finished a solid day at the plate with a 2-for-5 showing with two runs scored and three RBI during the second game. Park went 3-for-4 with two RBI and one run. Every Bulldog batter connected on at least one hit, with six players registering two or more hits.
On Friday, Redlands (19-7) hosts Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, which is ranked tied-for-12th in the nation. The important Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) clash begins at 2 p.m. at the Softball "Field of Dreams."
