REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands softball team (13-4) defeated two Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opponents in non-conference games Tuesday afternoon as they took down Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) 3-2 in eight innings before defeating No. 18 Chapman University, 3-1.
Redlands 3 – Pomona-Pitzer 2
The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Natalie Lowthers scored on Avery Provenzano sacrifice fly.
The Sagehens, though, came back two innings later a tied the game with a solo home run to left.
Then, following three scoreless innings for P-P and five for Redlands, the Sagehens took advantage of their placed runner at second and scored thanks to a double in the eighth. Caitlynn Griffith, however, dug in and got two infield pop ups to keep the deficit at one, 2-1.
In the bottom of the eighth Natalie Lopez bunted Avery Provenzano, the Bulldogs' placed runner, to third. Maya Holshoe came on as a pinch hitter and singled on the first pitch to tie the game at two. Following an error, Leila Gomez looped a ball into center field, allowing Holshoe to score the game-winning run.
The Bulldogs got away with allowing 10 hits in comparison to their four as starter Katlyn Gandara and reliver Griffith combined to strand nine Sagehens. Griffith got her third win after going the final 3.1 innings with no earned runs allowed.
Redlands 3 – Chapman 1
Gandara gave the Bulldogs an early lead 1-0 lead in the first when she lined a ball into right center field. A couple of innings later Natalie Lowthers doubled to right center and Gomez was able to score her second run of the game.
Chapman's best opportunity came in the fourth when they had a run home and two on base with one out. Paige Ellinger, though, got a fielder's choice for out number two before a foul out to Gandara at first ended the threat.
An insurance run was added in the bottom of the fifth when Brooklyn Bard was able to score on a fielding error at third which extended the inning for Redlands.
The top four in the batting order of Bard, Gomez, Gandara, and Lowthers combined for seven of the Bulldogs' eight hits.
Redlands returns to action when they play Occidental College at home on Friday at 3 p.m. in the first of a three-game SCIAC series.
