REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (12-3) won another two non-conference games Saturday at the Field of Dreams against John Carroll University (JCU) 8-0 and 9-1 before they begin Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play next weekend.
Game 1 (W, 8-0 | 6-Innings)
The Bulldogs got the lone run they needed for the win in their opening at-bats thanks to three straight hits up the middle from Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA), Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) and Avery Duran (Corona, CA).
Redlands added another three in the third coming on three hits. Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) started off the inning with a walk before stealing second. Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) moved her over to third with a base hit up the middle followed immediately by a pair of hits that scored three from Jackson and Gandara moving the score to 4-0.
Ashley Shelton (Jurupa Valley, CA) collected her first collegiate homerun in the bottom half of the sixth with a deep solo shot to left. Two batters later Natalie Lopez (Long Beach, CA) singled up the middle and was followed by a base hit from Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) into right field and a two-run triple by Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) who then completed the run-rule by coming in on a throwing error.
Jackson had a two-hit day with an RBI, while Gandara added two hits, two RBI's, while collecting her sixth win thanks to a complete game shutout.
Game 2 (W, 9-1 | 6-Innings)
It was a quick start for the Bulldogs in Game 2 with a five spot in the bottom half of the second coming on five hits, while using two Blue Streak errors. Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) started the inning off with a double down the left field line. Annissa Dorres (Mentone, CA) then brought her around with a single up the middle. Kim stepped in and reached on a fielder's choice before stealing second and coming around to score following a throwing error by the shortstop on an attempt to get Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) hustling down first base. Scott then stole second and reached third due to a throwing error by the catcher eventually coming in on a Bard base hit to left field. Bard then moved up to second with another stolen base and Horton would bring her in with double down the left field line.
After JCU got their lone run of the series on an infield hit in the fourth, the Bulldogs would put the game away with two runs in the fourth, and a run in the fifth and sixth.
Scott started the fourth inning off with a bunt single and after a pair of stolen bases would come in on a Bard triple to right field. Bard then scored on a sacrifice fly by Horton. In the fifth three singles all coming on two outs from Kim, Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA), and Scott along with a passed ball put UR on top 8-1. Then in the sixth Shelton put the game away with her sixth double on the season going to right center scoring Horton who reached earlier on a single to the pitcher.
In the circle Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) threw two scoreless giving up only three hits and walking one, Kaylen Galaviz (Yuba City, CA) had a scoreless third on 14 pitches to pick up her second win on the season, and Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA) threw the final three innings collecting the save.
Redlands prepares for their SCIAC opener next weekend, March 15-16 against the University of La Verne. The Bulldogs host the Leopards on Friday at 3:00pm for a single game before traveling to La Verne on Saturday for a doubleheader (12:00pm & 2:00pm).
