BLOOMINGTON, Ill – The University of Redlands Softball team (39-10) collected just one hit and allowed a pair of grand slams in their first NCAA Division III Women's College World Series game, falling 8-0, to Trine University.
The Bulldogs' lone hit came with two outs and no one on in the first inning when Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) singled to left center.
In the bottom of the first Trine had the bases loaded following two singles and a walk along with a pop up mixed in. Then with one out the Thunder would strike with a grand slam to left center for a 4-0 lead.
Bulldog starter Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA) would get out of the inning despite an error thanks to a fly out to Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) and a strike out.
After a one-two-three top of the second, the Bulldogs faced another bases loaded jam after three walks. Reliever Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA), however, handled the situation getting a fielder's choice ground ball to Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) at second to end the threat.
It was a perfect inning for both pitchers through the top of the fourth before the Thunder once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame. The batters reached thanks to an error, a single, and a walk. Just like the first inning, Trine took advantage connecting on their second grand slam of the game pushing the final score to 8-0.
The Bulldogs battled to try and avoid the run rule in the fifth. Provenzano walked and Isabella Culp (Bayliss, CA) was hit by a pitch. Then with one out Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA) reached on a fielding error that loaded the bases. The following two Bulldogs, though, lined out to third and flew out to center stranding three runners as the game came to an end.
Long, Provenzano, and Culp were the lone hitters to reach base safely. In the circle Ellinger was tabbed with the loss after allowing four runs in 1.2 innings. Gandara went 2.1 innings and conceded three earned runs.
Redlands will now take on the No. 7 seed Texas Lutheran University tomorrow, Friday, May 30 at 4:30 p.m. pacific daylight time in an elimination game.
