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

Starting pitcher Katlyn Gandara got herself an early run in the bottom of the first when she singled into center which allowed Leila Gomez to score.

Following a game-tying RBI single from Occidental, Gomez singled to left and scored Emi Connell. The second run of the inning came from Gandara who flied out to left and Avery Duran outran the throw to make it 3-1 after two complete innings.

The second of three consecutive two-run innings came in the third thanks to Adyson Kim and Brooklyn Bard who both singled to drive in Jenay Scott and Kim for a 5-1 advantage.

The final two runs of the game came in the fourth when Scott doubled to left center and plated Kayla Jackson from second who pinch ran for Gandara. Avery Provenzano then came through, as she laced a single to center for the seventh and final run.

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

Gandara got her seventh win after four one run innings. Brianna Garcia threw two scoreless after Emma Swenson pitched the fifth.

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