REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (25-9, 11-4 SCIAC) won their make-up game with Chapman University, 6-3, on Wednesday as they took the series to stay ahead of the Panthers in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings.
The Bulldogs would take an early 2-0 lead in the second inning thanks to a Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) RBI-double down the right field line with two strikes scoring Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) and Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) who reached on a single to right and a walk.
In the very next half inning the Panthers battled back to tie the game at two with a two-run double into the gap in left center. The Bulldogs, though, would respond immediately in the bottom half with Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) singling through the right side followed by a stolen base from Messenlehner who came around to score off a single from Kim putting UR on top 3-2.
Both sides were held scoreless in the fourth before Chapman again came through with a game-tying hit in the fifth that scored an unearned run after a Redlands error extended the inning.
Messenlehner continued to be in the middle of the action coming up clutch once again this time in the bottom of the fifth doubling home pinch runner Leila Gomez with what would be the eventual game-winning hit.
Pinch hitter Sophia Magcale (Cerritos, CA) then hit a two-out double into left center as Messenlehner scored for the third time along with Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA).
In the sixth inning with two on and no one out and the game-tying run at the plate, the Bulldogs went to the bullpen and brought on Gandara. The first batter she faced would line the ball right back to her, which she caught and doubled up the runner at second base for the double play. She then ended the threat with a groundout.
Down to their final two outs Chapman had the tying run back at the plate with one out after the leadoff batter reached on an error followed by the second batter hitting a short fly ball that landed fair down the right field line.
But Gandara would buckle down as she picked up a strikeout swinging before ending the game on a groundout.
Starter Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) earned her fourth win of the season after going five plus innings with two earned runs allowed as she worked around eight hits and four walks. Gandara got her third save of the season with two scoreless innings. Messenlehner finished 1-for-2 with three runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Kim was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Redlands now prepares for a trip to Occidental College in Eagle Rock on Friday, April 19 with first pitch set for 3:00 p.m.
