LA VERNE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (28-7, 13-3 SCIAC) edged the University of La Verne on the road, 4-3, Thursday afternoon thanks to a seventh inning two-run home run from Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) that secured the victory for the Bulldogs keeping them atop the conference standings.
It was the Leopards who got on the scoreboard first in the fourth inning when a triple and sacrifice fly made it 2-0. Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) and Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA), though, came right back in the next half inning as they tied the game with a double and a single.
Following a scoreless sixth, La Verne looked to be out of the top of the seventh inning on a ground ball back to the circle, but their pitcher missed the target on her throw, allowing Bard to reach and advance to second. That free out brought Gandara to the plate where she hit the eventual game-winning home run smashing it to right center putting the Bulldogs on top 4-2.
The Leopards responded in the bottom of the seventh by putting three of the first four batters on base. Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA), however, kept a run from scoring when she threw a runner out at the plate, which turned out to be huge as the next batter singled home a run that would have tied the game if the previous runner came across.
Gandara would take advantage of the defensive effort picking up a groundball, after a walk pushed the winning run to second, to end the game for her 11th win of the season.
The top four in the batting order of Messenlehner, Bard, Gandara, and Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) combined for six of the nine hits, three of the four runs scored, and all four RBI's.
Gandara allowed nine hits, two earned runs, and walked one Leopard across seven innings that took 103 pitches.
After a day off for commencement Friday, Redlands and La Verne play at The Field of Dreams on Saturday, April 26 with first pitch of game one set for noon (12 p.m.) following senior festivities prior to the game.
