COLUMBUS, Ga. – The University of Redlands Softball team opened up day two of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Leadoff Classic in Georgia with an 11-3 win over the RV College of Saint Benedict and finished the day off with a 12-9 upset win over No. 5 Belhaven University.
Game 1: RV Saint Benedict (W, 11-2)
The Bulldogs had the bases loaded in the first inning, but were unable to take full advantage as they settled for one run on an RBI-groundout from Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA).
After each side held the other scoreless through the fourth inning, starting Bulldog pitcher Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) got the offense going porching one driving in Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) and Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) putting UR on top 4-0.
In the bottom half of the fifth the Bennies were able to get on the scoreboard with an RBI-single before a sacrifice fly and a Bulldog error allowed two to score cutting the lead to one, 4-3.
Redlands, however, put the game to bed in the sixth with a five spot. Messenlehner singled home Kayla Jackson (Bishop, CA) and Gandara hit a grand slam to center field as Messenlehner, Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA), and Natalie Lowthers (Wrightwood, CA) came around to score moving for a 9-3 lead.
Isabella Culp (Bayliss, CA) and Avery Duran (Corona, CA) scored the final two runs in the seventh on a fly out and a single from Bard giving the Bulldogs the 11-3 victory.
Gandara finished with her first career multi-home run game and a career-high seven RBI's. She threw all seven innings in the circle picking up the win and allowed only two earned runs.
Game 2: No. 5 Belhaven University (W, 12-9)
In the final game of day two action, the Bulldogs upset No. 5 Belhaven University. It was a quick start for the offense once again as Culp singled home Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) and Gandara for an early 2-0 lead.
The Blazers came back in the bottom of the first and tied the game at two.
Across the second and third innings, the Bulldogs built a three-run lead, 5-2, thanks to a Messenlehner RBI-single and the first home run of the season for Culp, a two-run shot to left.
The back-and-forth continued when Belhaven tied the game in the third. Redlands, however, reclaimed the lead, 7-5, with a bases loaded walk and a pass ball in the fourth.
Following the third tie of the game Gandara came through with a single to right. L. Jackson then followed with a two-run home run to left pushing the lead to 10-7.
The three runs would be just enough as the Blazers pushed two across to pull to within one, 10-9, after five innings. A seventh-inning two-run L. Jackson double gave the Bulldogs some extra breathing room as Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) finished off the game.
L. Jackson and Culp each had four RBI's as Redlands finished the day with four home runs.
The final two games are tomorrow morning, Sunday, March 2 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. against Piedmont University and No. 25 Huntingdon College.
