CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (1-2, 1-1 SCIAC) opened their 2025 Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) schedule with a road doubleheader split at Pomona-Pitzer Saturday as they dropped game one, 4-2, before run-ruling the Sagehens in game two, 8-0.
Game 1: L, 4-2
The Bulldogs scored in the first when Avery Duran (Corona, CA) singled home Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA), who reached earlier on a walk. In the third Kassidy Long started things off with a double to left field and Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) would reclaim the lead for the Maroon and Grey when she singled home pinch-runner Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) giving UR a 2-1 lead.
Pomona-Pitzer though would rally to go in front in the sixth using three hits as they would hold on for the come from behind win. For the game Redlands was unable to take advantage of 10 hits, four walks, and five hit batters, while stranding 13 runners. Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) was charged with the loss, her second on the season after going a complete game giving up four runs on 10 hits. Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) finished going 2-for-3 and Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) was 2-for-4.
Game 2: W, 8-0 | 5-Innings)
The Redlands offense woke up after combining to score two runs in their first two games as they put up eight runs from the third through the fifth.
Gandara made it 1-0 with a single to right field that brought home Messenlehner. Duran had the big hit of the third when she drove in Kayla Jackson (Bishop, CA) and Bard following a three-run home run.
In the fourth Redlands received an unearned run following an error pushing the lead to 5-0. Then in the fifth the Bulldogs set up a run-rule opportunity with three more runs. Long doubled home Kim and Saya Fujii (San Jose, CA) then scored following an error on the right fielder.
Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) got the start and worked around five walks and allowed just two hits across 3.2 innings. Savannah Barchus (Hillsboro, OR) finished off the final 1.1 innings. Bard finished 2-for-3 scoring twice and drawing a walk and Duran was 1-for-3 scoring once and driving in three.
The two teams complete the three-game series on Sunday, February 16 at The Field of Dreams with first pitch set for noon.
