REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands softball team (3-3) lost 6-0 in game one against No. 3 Linfield University before dropping game two, 6-4, despite a late rally.

Game 1: Redlands 0 – Linfield 6

The Wildcats jumped out in front  in the first as they scored four times.

After Katlyn Gandara shut them down in the top of the second, Jenay Scott and Natalie Lowthers had back-to-back singles to begin the bottom half. The next three batters, though, struck out, fouled out, and grounded out to end the threat.

In the third the Bulldogs had another two runners on base after a Brooklyn Bard single and a walk drawn by Leila Jackson. But the scoring opportunity would end on a ground out.

Redlands left two on in the fourth and the bases loaded in the seventh.

Lowthers and Leila Gomez each had a pair of hits while Gandara went 6.2 innings with six runs allowed.

Game 2: Redlands 4 – Linfield 6

It looked like it was going to be the same type of game to begin the second game as the Wildcats had three runs in the first and were up 6-0 after five and a half innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, though, Maya Holshoe pinch hit and was hit by a pitch. After a Wildcat fielding error, a foul out, and a sacrifice fly from Gandara, it was 6-1 with Bard at second and two outs.

Jackson, Scott, and Lowthers then went single, triple, double to make it 6-4. They would be held there, but it was the closest it had been since the top of the first.

In the seventh Caitlynn Griffith retired Linfield in order to set up the offense needing only two runs. Despite momentum from the last at bats, they would be unable to muster any base runners against the Wildcats' starter from game one who got the save.

Scott had two hits as Redlands somehow was more competitive in a game with five hits than they were in the first game where they had eight.

The Bulldogs welcome their third Northwest Conference (NWC) opponent on Sunday as Lewis & Clark College lays a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.