REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands softball team (24-4, 9-1 SCIAC) pulled out a win, 7-4, over the University of La Verne Friday afternoon as starter Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) earned her 13th win after stranding 11 Leopards.
La Verne struck first with an RBI groundout in the first. Redlands came right back and basically won the game with a five-run bottom half.
Gandara doubled in Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) after Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA) scored on a throwing error. Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA) kept a ball fair down the third base line, which turned into a double and an RBI. The final two runs came on a bases loaded hit by pitch with Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) at the plate and a bases loaded walk to Bard.
Both sides were held scoreless in the second, but in the third the Leopards had the bases loaded with no outs and three runs already across. Gandara, though, dug in and got a fielder's choice with Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) getting the out at home before a line out to Natalie Lopez (Long Beach, CA) at first and a fly out to Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) in center ended the threat with the Bulldogs still in front, 5-4.
The insurance swing came from Provenzano in the nine spot driving a ball over the wall in right for a two-run home run and a three-run U of R lead, 7-4.
The home run looked to be huge as the Leopards loaded the bases with only one away in the top of the seventh. A strikeout swinging and a fly out induced by Gandara, though, ended the game.
Bard reached base three times with an RBI and run scored along with two stolen bases. Provenzano reached base all three plate appearances and drove in three. Gandara got the win after working around 13 hits.
Redlands and La Verne play the final two games of the series tomorrow, Saturday, April 4 in a doubleheader in La Verne beginning at 12:00 p.m. (noon).
