REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (20-6, 6-3 SCIAC) avoided a sweep against Chapman University as they split their home doubleheader Saturday dropping Game 1 5-4 before taking Game 2 6-1.
Game 1 (L, 5-4)
The Bulldogs matched the Panthers first inning run with a Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) sacrifice fly to left that brought home Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) who reached earlier getting hit by a pitch.
In the third Redlands once again matched the Chapman run in the top half of the frame thanks to a Gandara single into center field that scored Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA).
Chapman broke the game open in the fourth when they pushed across three runs on a triple and a single. Redlands, though, was able to respond with two runs of their own when Messenlehner came up clutch with a two-run, two-out single with the bases loaded to bring around Isabella Culp (Bayliss, CA) and Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA).
In the fifth and sixth innings, the Bulldogs did not get a runner into scoring position, but in the seventh, they had Messenlehner at second after a single and a steal and Gandara at first after being intentionally walked. Redlands did not take advantage of the opportunity though as they stranded the two runners to end the game.
Messenlehner, Bard, and Gandara reached base a combined seven times and had all three of their RBI's. Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) got the start and went 3.1 Innings giving up four runs on five hits, while walking two. She was tagged with the loss (3-2). Savannah Barchus (Hillsboro, OR) came on in relief and held the Panthers to one run across the final 2.2 innings.
Game 2 (W, 6-1)
It was a slow offensive start with no runs until the fourth. Luckily, Bulldog starter Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA) held the Panthers to only one run before Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) tied the game on a solo home run in the fourth.
The fifth was when the game broke open. The bases were loaded for Gandara who got an RBI after being hit by a pitch. Jackson then made it a two home run afternoon with a grand slam to left center for what would become the final score of 6-1.
Jackson finished with two hits, two runs scored, and five RBI's. Messenlehner and Culp also had two hits each and Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) added a hit and a walk.
Ellinger was dominate in the circle as she secured her fourth victory. She finished the seven innings needing only 88 pitches as she conceded two hits and struck out five. She improved to 4-1.
Redlands has less than a 24-hour turnaround as they prepare to host No. 2 Linfield University at the Field of Dreams tomorrow, Sunday, March 30 at 12:00 p.m. (noon.)
