CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands softball team (29-4, 14-1 SCIAC) swept another team on the season, this time it was Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) who they took down in another close game, 3-1, in game one and a more comfortable 9-1 scoreline in game two.
Game 1 (W, 3-1)
The Athenas jumped in front early 1-0 in the second on a sacrifice fly to center. Then in the fourth the Bulldogs found the game-tying run. Leila Gomez started the inning off with a single on the infield before stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error. She then came in off the bat of Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) who singled back up the middle.
In the sixth the Maroon and Grey combined for two runs on three hits, which proved to be the game-winner. Gandara started the rally off with a single to left center, Natalie Lowthers (Wrightwood, CA) then walked to put two runners on and that then led to Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) stepping in and tripling to left field plating both runners. Caitlynn Griffith (Pala, CA) who had come on in relief throwing the final four innings then stranded two base runners the rest of the way as she picked up the win.
Gandara finished with two hits with Gomez, Scott, Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA), Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA), and Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) each having one. In the circle Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) went three innings with only one earned run allowed before Griffith came on.
Game 2 (W, 9-1 | 5-Innings)
Holshoe had a two-run single and Kim an RBI single in the first inning giving UR a quick 3-0 lead before a CMS error allowed two more runs to score pushing the score to 5-0.
Gandara aided her pitching cause with a sacrifice fly to left in the second. Then the Bulldogs added their final three runs in the fourth on doubles by Gomez and Gandara with Scott grounding out scoring Mo Bassett (Portland, OR).
CMS did pull a run back in the fifth, but Redlands held on to complete the run-rule victory in five innings.
The top seven in the lineup combined for six hits and four walks. Gandara and Holshoe each had two RBI's with Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA) and Gomez adding two runs scored with a pair of stolen bases for Bard as well.
Gandara got the win after throwing a complete game and giving up just the one run coming on only 60 pitches.
This is the 19th consecutive win for the Bulldogs, tying them with the 2012 team who won 19-straight from February 22-March 25. Redlands has not lost a game since March 7.
The Bulldogs are off this weekend before hosting Chapman University for game one of a three-game series on Thursday, April 23 at 3:00 p.m.
