REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands softball team (11-4, 2-1 SCIAC) split their home doubleheader with California Lutheran University (CLU) Saturday afternoon dropping game one 5-2 before coming back for a 16-8 win in game two.
Game 1 (L, 5-2)
The Bulldogs fell behind 3-0 after a pair of Regal home runs in the first inning. Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) then cut into the lead by one with an RBI-groundout plating Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA).
Then in the third Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) flew out to center, picking up an RBI as Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) came home. But Redlands still faced a deficit, 5-2, after a two-run single by CLU in the second inning.
The best opportunity came in the seventh for the Bulldogs when Gomez singled and stole second. Bard made it two-for-two for the Bulldogs as her single moved Gomez to second and brought the tying run to the plate.
During the following at bat, Bard stole second base, her 106th of her career, making her the new program record holder surpassing Allyson Leslie (2004-07) who had 105.
Despite the tying run being at the plate for the next three at bats, Redlands was unable to bring any runs across as the Bulldogs dropped their first Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game of the season.
Natalie Lopez finished the game 2-for-3. Gomez was also 2-for-3 with a run scored. Bard was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. The loss went to Paige Ellinger who went 1.1 innings giving up five runs on five hits moving her to 2-3.
Game 2 (W, 16-7)
Redlands appeared to find their breakout moment offensively in the second inning when they tallied five runs to take a 6-0 lead. Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) singled home Gomez in the first before Provenzano, Gandara, and Scott all picked up RBI's in the second inning.
The Regals, however, slowly chipped away with three in the third, one in the fourth, two in the fifth to take an 8-6 lead in the sixth.
Despite no runs for the previous three innings, the Bulldog offense put together three doubles and two singles in the bottom half of the sixth, which led to 10 runs and a run-rule victory after they faced a potential second loss with only six outs to work with heading into the inning.
Gandara tied the game at eight with a two-run double. Scott had the game-winning hit reaching on a fielder's choice and Kayla Jackson (Bishop, CA) outran the throw home. Emi Connell (Bellevue, WA) followed with a two-run double that the right fielder lost in the sun.
Lopez, Avery Duran (Corona, CA), Gomez, and Gandara tacked on the final seven runs.
Gomez finished with four hits and four runs scored as she moved into the second position in the lineup. Gandara and Scott each had four RBI's. Gandara started and went 4.0 Innings giving up four runs on nine hits leaving with the no decision and Caitlynn Griffith (Pala, CA) finished off the final two innings recording her second win on the season.
Redlands has next week off before hosting Pomona-Pitzer (12:00pm) and Chapman University (3:00pm) for a pair of non-conference games on Tuesday, March 17.
