McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The University of Redlands Softball team (33-14) lost game four, 7-2, of the best of five-game series at No. 1 Linfield University Saturday afternoon as they were eliminated from the NCAA Regional with a 3-1 series loss.
The Bulldogs trailed only two batters into the game after Linfield scored off a double, but starter Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA), who is the only pitcher to beat the Wildcats this season, held them to that one run through the third.
In the fourth the Wildcats made it 2-0 and then put a crooked number on the board in the sixth when they scored on a solo home run and three RBI-singles to extend their lead to 6-0.
After conceding a big inning in the top half, the Bulldog offense came right back in the bottom of the sixth as Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) collected her third hit on the day to start the inning and after Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) singled, Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) put them on the board as she singled to center.
Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) made it a two-run inning with a fly out to center that plated Bard. They would then have runners at first and second with two outs, but a fielder's choice ended the final threat of the game.
With two outs in the seventh Horton completed her perfect day with a single as the Bulldogs would fall 7-2.
Horton went 4-for-4 with a run scored. She ends her career with a .383 average, the eighth highest all-time, 163 hits (10th), 119 runs scored (7th), 10 triples (9th), 46 walks (9th), and 72 stolen bases (2nd).
On the season Horton finishes with 150 at bats (8th), 64 hits (T-6th), six triples (T-7th), and a program record 34 stolen bases.
Gandara had a hit and an RBI. She finishes the season with a .488 batting average (3rd), 60 hits (11th), 53 RBI (4th), and a .534 on-base percentage (7th).
In the circle Ellinger had another good outing against Linfield, giving up five runs on six hits along with two strikeouts.
The 33 wins this season are the most for the program since 2013 when they won 36. It is Head Coach Jose Ortega's second-straight 30-win season, becoming only the second coach in program history to have multiple 30-win seasons.
The Bulldogs will have to replace Horton and Annissa Dorres in the offseason, but everyone else will return in 2025.
