ORANGE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (19-8, 5-3 SCIAC) split a doubleheader with Chapman University on the road Friday afternoon taking Game 1 3-2 before dropping a 9-1 decision in Game 2.
Game 1 (W, 3-2)
The Bulldogs fell behind 2-0 after Chapman scored on an RBI single in the first inning and an RBI double in the second.
It was not until the fourth that the Bulldogs were able to break through against the Panthers as Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) doubled home Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) who singled in the prior at bat. Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) then hit a sacrifice fly to right to bring in the game-tying run.
In the seventh Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) singled with one out and then advanced to second on a fielder's choice. Scott would then score as Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) grounded out to second to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.
Gandara worked around a one out walk in the seventh as she retired the side on a fly out and strike out to secure her 10th win of the season.
Gandara threw a complete game with four strikeouts on 88 pitches across the seven innings. Long, Horton, Kim and Scott all finished 1-for-3.
Game 2 (L, 9-1 | 6-Innings)
The Bulldogs continued their success at the plate from game one in the first inning as Horton had a one-out single. She then stole second, and after a fielder's choice that moved her to third, Gandara hit a sacrifice fly to center pushing her across for a 1-0 lead.
After that early success, it was all Chapman as they scored four in the bottom of the first on a grand slam before adding two more runs in the second and one in each of the third, fifth, and sixth innings as they earned the run-rule victory.
Redlands had managed to win a pitching duel in game one despite their offense having only four hits, but the pitching was not able to handle the Chapman hitters for a second time and the offense was quiet once again, reaching base via a hit five times.
Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) was the lone Bulldog to reach base multiple times as she walked and singled. Ashley Shelton (Jurupa Valley, CA) had the only extra base hit which was a triple.
Redlands now prepares for a road trip to Whittier College next Friday, April 5 with a single game starting at 3:00 p.m.
