REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (38-9) trailed two times in the first three innings before they outscored Emory University 10-1 across the final two and a half frames en route to a 12-4 run-rule victory in five innings in game one of a best-of-three series with a trip to the College World Series on the line.
An error allowed the top of the first inning to continue and the Eagles took advantage on a fielder's choice where the Bulldogs were not able to turn a double play allowing Emory to bring home the runner from third.
In the bottom of the first Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) came through with a two-out two-run double into left center that scored Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) and Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) who each singled earlier.
Emory again scored a single run in the second thanks to a Redlands miscue as the game was tied at two heading into the bottom of the inning.
Following a scoreless second for the Bulldogs, and an RBI-single that made it 3-2 Eagles after two and half innings, Redlands pushed four across in the bottom of the third. Paige Messenlehner (Easton, CA) doubled home Jenay Scott (Merced, CA), Long doubled in Messenlehner, Provenzano singled home Long, and Isabella Culp (Bayliss, CA) found the middle of the field to make it 6-3 Bulldogs at the end of three.
Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) doubled off the wall in right center to make it 8-3 in the fourth plating Scott and Messenlehner. Following a fourth Eagle run in the fifth, the Bulldogs put the game away with four runs in the next half inning.
The first two came courtesy of Bard who singled up the middle with the bases loaded, which plated Scott and Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA). The next batter Long hit a ground ball to second that should have been an RBI-groundout, but the second baseman had it hit off their glove and deflect into center field, which allowed Bard to score from second as well ending the game for the U of R leading by eight, 12-4.
Each of the first six hitters had hits for the Bulldogs, combining for 10 on the afternoon. Scott as the nine-hole hitter went three-for-three with three runs scored. The Bulldogs also did a great job of taking advantage of their base runners, stranding only four in comparison to the 11 for Emory.
Starter Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) had a walk at the plate and went five innings for her 14th win on the season. She allowed four runs but only one was earned.
Game two is at 12 p.m. (noon) Friday, May 23 at the Field of Dreams with the Bulldogs needing only one win out of the potential two games to advance. If necessary, game three of the series, and game two on the day, would begin around 30 minutes following the first game.
