REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (3-0) run-ruled their third straight opponent Tuesday afternoon to begin 2024 as Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) hit a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth as the Bulldogs beat La Sierra University 10-2 at the Field of Dreams.
In the first inning the Eagles were able to get on the board with a single to center after an error extended the frame. But U of R starter First-Year Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA) was able to end the threat with a ground out.
Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) got the offense going for the Maroon and Grey in their opening at-bats doubling down the right field line. After a foul out and ground out, Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) would tie things up with a single through the right side plating Bard.
After a scoreless top of the second from Ellinger, Redlands put together a two-out rally in the bottom half of the frame that saw Natalie Lopez (Long Beach, CA) single to center. Kayla Jackson (Bishop, CA) subbed in to pinch run and would steal second eventually coming in on a Bard base hit on the infield moving the score to 2-1.
In the third Redlands picked up another run as Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) drove in pinch runner Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) who was at second following a stolen base. Scott had come in for Long who walked in her at-bat.
After a scoreless fourth, the Eagles were able to get their second run of the game on a single down the left field line as the lead was cut to one, 3-2.
Ashley Shelton (Jurupa Valley, CA) got the run back in the bottom half of the fifth as she doubled to right center scoring Avery Duran (Corona, CA) for a 4-2 lead. Duran had walked to lead off the inning before Gandara advanced her to second on a base hit. The Bulldogs' inning would end with two more runners left on.
Ellinger allowed only a walk in the top of the sixth before Bard and Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) began the bottom of the inning with a double and single that made it 5-2.
Following a pop-up, Long got another RBI as Horton came across. The next two batters Duran and Messenlehner each reached base on singles in front of Gandara who came up with the bases loaded.
Gandara fouled off the first pitch, which came off the end of her bat and was almost playable by the catcher, but it fell foul. She then took the next pitch and drove it out to right field just over the fielder's glove for the grand slam making it a 10-2 win.
The Bulldogs walked twice, had 16 hits and put together a six-run sixth inning.
Bard and Gandara each had three-hit days with Horton and Long each posting two hits. In the circle Ellinger threw a complete game with three hits allowed, one earned run and four strikeouts across 94 pitches.
Redlands will host Whitworth University for a doubleheader this Saturday, February 17 with Game 1 set for 11:00 a.m.
