REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands softball team (1-1) opened their 2026 season with a series split against George Fox University (GFU) taking game one 10-2 in five innings before falling 10-5 in the second game.
Game 1 (W, 10-2)
The Bulldogs got in an early 2-0 hole after the Bruins hit a two-run home run in the top of the first.
In the bottom half of the inning, though, Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA) scored as she took an extra 60 feet on a fielder's choice.
The big hit of the game came from Avery Duran (Corona, CA) in the second when she homered to right center driving in Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA) and Jenay Scott (Merced, CA).
In the next inning Scott doubled in Leila Jackson (Vallejo, CA) and Holshoe brought in Scott on a single through the left side.
Redlands put the game away with a Holshoe RBI-single that plated Scott for the third time. Then a Bruin error made it 9-2, which allowed Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) to walk it off in run-rule fashion with a single to right center that scored Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA).
Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) through a complete game grabbing the win giving up the two runs on five hits and walking just one.
Game 2 (L, 10-5)
In the second game of the doubleheader it was again GFU taking an early lead, this time in the second as a sacrifice fly made it 1-0.
Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) tied the game in the next half inning on a sacrifice bunt that allowed Natalie Lowthers (Wrightwood, CA) to make it home safely.
Redlands reclaimed the lead in the third with a Scott RBI and a double steal attempt that resulted in Scott stealing home for a 3-2 UR lead.
The Bruins, however, responded with a pair of two-run innings in the fourth and fifth, before putting together a big seventh when they tallied four.
A Lowthers' home run in the sixth and another Scott hit and RBI in the seventh were the final two runs for the U of R. Paige Ellinger (Temecula, CA) got the start and was tagged with the loss going 5.0 Innings, giving up six runs on seven hits.
Redlands returns to action this Monday at 12 p.m. (noon) for a doubleheader with La Sierra University.
