REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (16-3) extended their winning streak to 16 games with a 4-2 game one victory over Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) before dropping their first game in a month in game two, 7-4.
Game 1 (W, 4-2)
Each team scored once in the first three innings before the Bulldogs pushed three unanswered runs across the plate.
The first run for the Bulldogs came in the first when Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded allowing Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) to walk home.
Then in the fourth, Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) scored on a fielding error by the shortstop. Later in the inning, Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) singled up the middle with what would be the game-winning hit. Pinch hitter Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA), who walked, and Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) each scored.
In the sixth, the Bears had two on and two outs trailing 4-1. With a pinch hitter at the plate, they singled to second cutting the lead to two. Gandara, though, forced a groundout to Kim at third to end the threat with the tying runners stranded.
In the final frame, Gandara ended the game one-two-three with two groundouts to secure the Bulldogs' 16th-straight win. The winning streak will end as the third longest in program history.
The Bulldogs had only three hits but they took advantage of four walks and two hit batters. Gandara threw all seven innings, allowing two runs and striking out two as she improved to 7-2.
Game 2 (L, 7-4)
The Bulldogs held a 3-0 lead after two innings thanks to an RBI-triple from Bard and a sacrifice fly to right. Then in the second Messenlehner doubled to right field scoring Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) for the 3-0 advantage.
In the next half inning the Bears tied the game at three after stealing home for their first run before a single and throwing error allowed a pair of baserunners to cross the plate to make it 3-3.
WashU would secure the win in the fourth when they added two more runs. The Bulldogs would stay attached, though, getting another RBI from their leadoff hitter Messenlehner to cut the deficit to one, 5-4, after four. In that fourth inning they left the bases loaded in what was their final at bat with a runner in scoring position.
Messenlehner and Bard at the top of the order combined to go 5-for-8 with two runs scored, three RBI's, and a stolen base.
Redlands will get a week off with their next games occurring on Saturday, March 22 at home against Whitworth University beginning at 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
