WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Redlands softball team (21-4, 6-1) easily handled Whittier College, 10-1, Friday afternoon on the road as Katlyn Gandara threw a complete game.
Gandara helped her cause in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly to left that scored leadoff hitter Brooklyn Bard. After Gandara shut down the Poets in bottom half, Natalie Lopez and Bard each picked up RBI as Lopez doubled home Adyson Kim and Jenay Scott and Bard allowed Lopez to cross home plate for a quick 4-0 lead.
In the third each team got a run with Maya Holshoe doubling home pinch runner Kayla Jackson and the Poets getting their first on a sacrifice fly to left.
The fourth inning was the Bulldogs' most productive as they plated four runs. Bard doubled and drove in Avery Provenzano and Saya Fujii. Natalie Lowthers then flied out to left to make it 8-1. The fourth run came on a Scott ground out that scored Leila Gomez.
Bard added her fourth RBI of the afternoon with a single to center in the fifth that allowed head coach Jose Ortega to send Kim home for the final score of 10-1.
Bard had two hits, a walk, two runs scored, and four RBI. Scott, Kim, Lopez, and Provenzano had two hits each as the Bulldogs finished with 13 overall.
In the circle Gandara's complete game came on 57 pitches with only four hits allowed which gave her win number 11 on the season.
Redlands hosts Whittier tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. (noon) at the Field of Dreams.
