REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (4-1) suffered their first loss of the season Saturday splitting a twin bill with Whitworth University falling 7-5 in Extra-Innings in Game 1 before taking Game 2 9-4.
Game 1 (L, 7-5 | 9-Innings)
The Pirates opened the game with the leadoff hitter reaching base on an error in center. After a flyout induced by starter Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA), Whitworth was able to score the run on a sacrifice fly to center.
First-Year Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) got the Bulldogs offense started doubling down the left field line to begin the bottom of the second.
Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) then reached on an error at short as Jackson advanced to third. Sophia Magcale (Cerritos, CA) then came up and tied the game as she was able to use a productive sacrifice fly to left, to get Redlands on the board.
An inning later Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) singled to right center with one out and then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error behind the plate. Avery Duran (Corona, CA) then made it two-for-two in scoring runners from third with less than two outs as the Bulldogs led 2-1.
Redlands would continue to threaten with a single from Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA), but a foul out to second base ended the threat.
The lead did not last a full batter as the leadoff Pirate hitter in the fourth homered down the left field line to even the game at two. Gandara would settle down after that as she would retire the next three in order.
Messenlehner singled and stole second base to begin the bottom half of the fourth. She then made it to third on a passed ball with one out. Isabella Culp (Bayliss, CA) would take advantage as she grounded out to first bringing in the tying run.
Just like the fourth, Redlands would get a hit and stolen base to start the inning as leadoff hitter Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) made her way to second. After a groundout, Bard was able to score off a ground ball to second base by Duran moving the score to 4-2.
Neither team was able to score in the sixth, which put the Pirates down to their last three outs trailing by two in the seventh. The first two batters would reach base on a pair of hits before a foul out and a game-tying two-run double.
The Bulldogs were able to get Bard over to third with two outs with a chance to walk it off but Horton would fly out to center sending the game to extra-innings. In the top half of the eighth Redlands was able to hold the Pirates scoreless and was then able to load the bases in the bottom half of the inning with one out, but Messenlehner would line out to second base for an inning ending double play.
Redlands would get one back when Gandara pinch hit driving home their fifth run, but the Bulldogs would fall 7-5.
Gandara picked up her first loss on the season moving to 2-1 after throwing 8.0 Innings, giving up seven runs (four earned), while scattering seven hits and collecting a pair of strikeouts. Horton finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, Bard was 2-for-5 with a run scored and Messenlehner was 1-for-4 scoring twice.
Game 2 (W, 9-4)
Redlands got off to a hot start in the second game of the doubleheader plating four runs in their opening at-bats. Bard and Horton each beat out singles on the infield to start the inning. Jackson then stepped in with a base hit through the left side scoring one and was followed by another two hits by Long and Annissa Dorres bringing in another two. The last RBI would come from Magcale who would go opposite field with a base hit putting UR up 4-0.
In the third the Maroon and Grey tacked on insurance scoring three runs on four hits going up 7-0. Messenlehner started things off with a base hit up the middle and moved over to second with a stolen base. Magcale swapped spots with her doubling to right center and would come in after an Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) single to right field. The last run would come in courtesy of Bard who would beat out an infield single.
Redlands picked up their eighth run in the fourth capitalizing on a Pirate error. Whitworth was able to rally in the top half of the fifth scoring three times and would add another in the sixth, but that's as close as they would get as Redlands would hold on for the split.
Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA) earned her second win on the season throwing four shutout innings with three strikeouts and stranding two hits. After Kalyn Galaviz (Yuba City, CA) threw the fifth Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) came in and threw the final two frames giving up only one run, which was unearned.
Bard, Long, Magcale, and Kim all had two hits for the game as the Bulldogs ended up with 14 total hits.
Redlands will return to the diamond next Friday, February 23 for a doubleheader (12:00pm | 2:00pm) with Pacific Lutheran University at The Field of Dreams.
