McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The University of Redlands Softball team (32-12) dropped game one of the best-of-five NCAA Regional Thursday afternoon falling 11-3 in five-innings to No. 1 Linfield University.  

The Bulldogs got off to a great start in the first as Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) doubled down the left field line. She was caught stealing though before Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) had an infield single to shortstop. Following a foul out from Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA), Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) made it 1-0 with a double into left center.

Gandara was able to work around a lead off infield single to complete the shutdown inning soon after.  

Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) and Horton had singles in the second and third innings, respectively, but Redlands was unable to do anything with them, which would be a problem as Linfield would push across the tying run in the third on a two-out single.

With Leila Jackson (Bishop, CA) at second and Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) at first following a walk and a single, the Wildcats' starter would be able to end the threat with a strikeout swinging.

The wheels fell off in the fourth for the U of R as Linfield broke the tie with a five-run inning.

The Bulldogs, though, fought back in the fifth as Horton collected her third hit on the afternoon with one out. Bard then walked to bring up Gandara. She helped her cause as she continued her hot hitting with a two-run double to make it 6-3.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Wildcats posted another five-run inning as they ended the game early due to the run-rule.  

Horton finished 3-for-3 with a run scored, Bard went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored, Gandara was 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI's and Messenlehner wasd 1-for-3 with another run batted in.  In the circle Gandara was charged with the loss throwing 3.1 Innings giving up five earned runs on nine hits.   

The Bulldogs and Wildcats play a doubleheader Friday starting with game one at 1:30 p.m. Redlands will need to win at least once in order to extend the series.