The 10th-ranked University of Redlands softball team honored its three seniors with two important Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) wins over the visiting Poets of Whittier College on Saturday at the "Field of Dreams."  While never trailing against the Poets, the Bulldogs edged their opponents by scores of 5-4 and 4-3, and moved into first place in the top-heavy conference standings.

After recognizing seniors Sarah Beeman (Corona, CA), Kayla Uphold (Fontana, CA), and Ashlie Newhouse (Lancaster, CA), the Maroon and Gray took an early lead with a close run in the first inning.  Freshman short stop Vicki King (Thousand Oaks, CA) uncorked a sacrifice fly to right field to bring home junior second baseman Amanda Clark (Riverside, CA), who led off the game by being walked.

The Bulldogs extended their lead in the second stanza with well-timed RBI-hits by Uphold and freshman left-fielder Grace Rose (Villa Park, CA).  Uphold found an opening in the left corner of the field, while Rose singled through the left side to make it 3-0.

Redlands tacked on two more in the fifth, as sophomore designated player Nikoli Sharp (Lincoln, CA) crushed an RBI-double to right center, plating King, who led off with a single.  Uphold recorded her second RBI of the day when she connected on a base-hit to score freshman Addie Oeleis (Temecula, CA), who pinch-ran for Sharp.

However, the Poets refused to go away and fired off four runs in the top of the sixth to make it a one-run game.  Sophomore third baseman Mercedes Cundiff (Rowland, CA) highlighted the effort with a two-run shot over the fence.

Following Sharp's difficult pitching outing, Uphold reentered the circle to close out the game by forcing five straight outs. 

Rose led the Bulldog offense with a 3-for-4 performance, while Uphold recorded a team-high two RBI.

During the night cap, a similar story unfurled, forcing the Bulldogs to step up in pressure situations for the important victory.

The Maroon and Gray initiated the scoring in the fourth inning, as junior catcher Kristen Hooper (Riverside, CA) doubled to left-center to plate Sharp with two outs.  Clark traded places with Hooper with a double of her own for the 2-0 lead.

Although Whittier answered with a single score in the top of the fifth, Redlands' Beeman catapulted the Bulldogs to a 4-1 lead with a two-run dinger, earning her third home run of the season. 

Nonetheless, the Poets came storming back in the top of the sixth, making it a one-run game once again.  Whittier uncorked three doubles in the process.

With the game on the line in the seventh, the Poets loaded the bases after a walk, an error, and a pair of fielder's choices.  However, with two outs, Uphold and the Bulldog defense got it done, forcing a critical pop-up, third out to the short stop.

Uphold went the distance in game two, registering her 17th win of the season.

Freshman right-fielder AJ Carrasco (Whittier, CA) and Beeman led the Bulldog offense with a pair of 2-for-3 efforts, with Beeman accounting for two RBI in the process.

Redlands (27-7, 17-5 SCIAC) hits the road for the remainder of the regular season, beginning on Friday, April 12, when it heads to Cal Lutheran University for a 2 p.m. twin bill against the Regals.