REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (18-7, 4-2 SCIAC) dropped a pair of close games to No. 3 Linfield University Wednesday afternoon at the Field of Dreams falling 3-2 in Game 1 behind a pitching dual before putting together a huge offensive display in Game 2 falling 11-9.  The Wildcats remain perfect at 16-0.  

Game 1 (2-3)

In the first game of the doubleheader the Wildcats would go in front 2-0 with a run in the first and second innings.  Sophomore Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) got the Bulldogs on the scoreboard in the bottom half of the second with a solo home run to right cutting the deficit to one, her third on the season.

After Linfield countered the Redlands run in the third, Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) singled home pinch runner Kayla Jackson (Bishop, CA) in the fourth moving the score to 3-2, Wildcats.  

Gandara would single in the sixth before being stranded as the game-tying run. In the seventh with one out Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) singled through the right side before being thrown out trying to steal second as the Wildcats took Game 1.  

Gandara was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored and an RBI and Scott was 2-for-3 with a steal and a run scored. Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA) threw the complete game on 103 pitches with two strikeouts dropping to 7-2.  

Game 2 (9-11)

Kaylen Galaviz (Yuba City, CA) got the start in Game 2 and was able to work around a leadoff single in the first as she picked up a double play turned thanks to Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) who stepped on third for a force out before throwing the runner out at first, which ended the threat.  

The Wildcats, however, would put five on the board in the second behind a three-run shot to left and a triple.

Kim would get a run back for the Maroon and Grey in the bottom half of the frame as she grounded into a fielder's choice, which allowed Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) to score.  Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) followed with a single on the infield bringing in the second run.  

Linfield would then get three more runs in the third, all off home runs as they went back-to-back during the frame.  

Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) came in during the third and would throw two scoreless innings to help the Bulldogs stay within striking distance.

In the fifth inning Gandara flied out to left and picked up an RBI on a sacrifice fly. Natalie Lopez (Long Beach, CA) was the second runner to come in as she scored after Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) reached on a fielding error at short.

The Wildcats looked to put the game away in the sixth when they scored three more extending their lead to seven, 11-4.

After a pitching change by Linfield the Bulldogs capitalized putting together a rally in the seventh plating five runs on five hits.  Horton started the inning off with a walk, Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) then singled to second base beating out the throw advancing Horton to third and Gandara singled to left bringing in the first run.   

After out number one was recorded on a fielder's choice, Maddy Hughes (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) singled down the left field line scoring pinch runner Bard. Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) kept the line moving with an infield single that allowed Messenlehner to come in and due to a throwing error by the shortstop Gomez was able to advance to second.  

Annissa Dorres (Mentone, CA) would use the Bulldogs' second out effectively as she flied out to right for the sacrifice fly making it a three run game, 11-8.

Down to their final strike of the contest, Kim doubled down the right field line, which made it 11-9 and brought up the tying run. The hit prompted a pitching change from Linfield as they went back to their game one starter Tayah Kelley as she would get a strike out to end the game.

Gomez had a career day with a 3-for-4 effort as she drove in one and scored twice. Long had two hits and drew a walk, while Gandara added another hit and two RBI's.

Garcia finished with no runs allowed in two innings and Ellinger finished off the final 1.2 innings with no runs and a strikeout.  Galaviz was charged with the loss, her first on the season after she went 2.0 Innings giving up eight runs on eight hits.  

With the non-conference schedule finished, the Bulldogs now focus on Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play as they go to Orange County for a doubleheader at Chapman University this Friday, March 29 with first pitch of game one at 1:30 p.m.