CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (25-7, 10-3 SCIAC) scored seven runs in the third inning at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) as they took game one, 9-1, Friday afternoon.
Following a pair of scoreless innings, and a pop up to begin the third, Saya Fujii (San Jose, CA) singled to the short stop as the first of eight consecutive Bulldogs to reach base.
Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) was the next as she got hit by a pitch. The bases were then loaded by the Athena pitcher when Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) walked. Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) then broke the scoreless tie with a two-run single up the middle.
The next batter Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) walked to reload the bases for Kassidy Long who singled to right. Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) proceeded to make it 4-0 with a single of her own.
After the second pitching change of the inning, Isabella Culp (Bayliss, CA) walked with the bases loaded, and following a strike out, Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA) singled to center to score Scott and Long for a U of R 7-0 lead.
In the fifth inning Scott led off the frame with a single to the shortstop and then stole second. Culp advanced her to third ahead of pinch hitter Natalie Lowthers (Wrightwood, CA) who doubled her home. Run number nine of the game came two batters later when Messenlehner reached on a fielder's choice and picked up an RBI as Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) came in.
Two of CMS' five hits came in the bottom of the fifth as they needed two runs to avoid a run-rule decision, and despite getting one back, starter Gandara got out of the inning to secure her tenth win of the season.
The four-five-six batters – Jackson, Long, and Scott – all had six of the 10 hits for the U of R, scored four runs, drove in two, and had a walk. Gandara threw 5.0 Innings giving up just one run on five hits, while throwing just 71 pitches.
The two teams play a doubleheader at The Field of Dreams tomorrow, Saturday, April 12 beginning at noon (12 p.m.) as the Bulldogs need just one win to take the series.
