REDLANDS, Calif. – In the rubber game of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC)-opening series against Pomona-Pitzer, the University of Redlands Softball team (2-2, 2-1 SCIAC) scored five of the final seven runs to win a high-scoring game, 8-7 contest Sunday afternoon.
Following a Sagehen two-run single in the top half of the second, Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) tied the game up on her own with a two-run single plating Isabella Culp (Bayliss, CA) and Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA). She then came around later in the inning to put the Bulldogs up 3-2.
Pomona-Pitzer took a 5-3 lead with three runs in the fourth, but again Redlands responded in the next half inning, this time scoring four times.
Alyson Stofila (Corona, CA) got things started with an RBI-single to left, Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) then drove home the tying run on a sacrifice fly to right, scoring pinch-runner Kayla Jackson (Bishop, CA). Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) then reclaimed the lead on a single up the middle.
Now leading 7-6, Redlands' Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) would drive a ball to second base where they committed an error that allowed Messenlehner to score what would become the game-winning run.
It would be a necessary run too as the Sagehens had the tying run at third with one out after they advanced from second on a wild pitch that allowed the runner at third to score to make it 8-7.
Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA), who came on in relief, locked in and got a ground out, issued a walk to the best Sagehen hitter, and induced a pop up to end the game.
Following two games to start the season in which the Bulldogs totaled two runs, they have now scored 16 runs over their last two contests.
L. Jackson went 3-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and Kim and Bard both drove in two. Redlands also stole five bases. In the circle Savannah Barchus (Hillsboro, OR) got the win and Ellinger the save. The save is Ellinger's third in her career, tying her with three other former Bulldogs for the second most behind her teammate Gandara who has five.
Occidental College comes to town for the series opener on Friday, February 21 at 2:00 p.m. as the Bulldogs get their final series before heading to Georgia a week later.
