REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands softball team (14-4, 3-1 SCIAC) used strong pitching from three pitchers and timely hitting to beat Occidental College, 7-2, in game one of three in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) series Friday afternoon.

Starting pitcher Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) got herself an early run in the bottom of the first when she singled into center, which allowed Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) to score.

Following a game-tying RBI single from Occidental, Gomez singled to left plating Emi Connell. The second run of the inning came from Gandara who flew out to left bring across Avery Duran (Corona, CA) who outran the throw to make it 3-1 after two complete.

The second of three consecutive two-run innings came in the third thanks to Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) and Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA) who both singled to drive in Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) and Kim for a 5-1 U of R advantage.

The final two runs of the game came in the fourth when Scott doubled to left center scoring Kayla Jackson (Bishop, CA) from second who pinch ran for Gandara. Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) then came through, as she laced a single to center for the seventh and final run for the Maroon and Grey.

Scott finished with three hits, two of which were for extra bases, she also scored twice. Gomez and Kim added two hits each as the Bulldogs recorded 12 hits.

Gandara got her seventh win on the season after going 4.0 Innings giving up just one run.  Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) threw two scoreless after Emma Swenson (Clovis, CA) pitched the fifth.

The Bulldogs and Tigers play a doubleheader to complete the series Saturday with first pitch of game one set for 12 p.m. (noon).