The University of Redlands softball team showed heart in both games but fell in a doubleheader against Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) foe, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges, on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs pushed the Sagehens in an 8-11 loss in game one before dropping the nightcap by a score of 3-7.

Although the Maroon and Gray faced a seven-run deficit after two innings, an explosive play from senior catcher Nova Siegel (Fairfield, CA) in the top of the third shifted the momentum in favor of the Bulldogs. Redlands set up Siegel by working the left side of the field with three consecutive singles to load the bases. As a result, the Sagehens walked first-year designated player Aya Smith (Redlands, CA), which allowed sophomore centerfielder Sam Rivas (Whittier, CA) to score. With the bases still loaded, Siegel turned the first home run of her Redlands career into a morale-boosting grand slam to cut the deficit to just two runs.

Although the Sagehens managed to score one in the bottom of the third inning, the Bulldogs' defense stepped up to keep them off the board in the fourth and fifth. Highlighting the defensive effort, sophomore third baseman Ryanna Curtis (Upland, CA) and first-year first baseman Jessica Torosian (Thousand Oaks, CA) connected on a double-play for the first two outs of the fifth inning.

The Maroon and Gray's bats backed up its defense with another two runs in the top of the sixth. Senior shortstop Jordyn Smith (Highland, CA) hit a two-RBI single, while Smith singled through the left side to score Smith and knot the game at eight apiece.

However, the Sagehens regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth to close out the game with the win.

Despite the loss, the Bulldogs' lineup performed well at the plate, led by senior second baseman Julianne Rodriguez (Thousand Oaks, CA), Smith, and junior left fielder Jaci Sanchez (Lakewood, CA) with two hits apiece.

In game two, Pomona-Pitzer went to work early to take a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

Nonetheless, Redlands loaded the bases in the second frame and scored a run, as Rodriguez took a hit-by-pitch to send sophomore right fielder Desiree Moran (Bakersfield, CA) home to make it 1-3.

This time, the Sagehens extended the lead and remained ahead through five innings. The Bulldogs scored two runs over the final two frames but ultimately suffered a 3-7 loss.

Siegel posted a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.

Redlands (14-20, 8-14 SCIAC) concludes its three-doubleheader road stand on Friday, April 19, against fifth-ranked Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at 2 p.m.