SEGUIN, Texas – The University of Redlands softball team (41-6) dropped game one of the Seguin Super Regional, 5-3 against Texas Lutheran University, as they were unable to take advantage of their 13 hits.
TLU opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first capitalizing on a fielding error by the Maroon and Grey. The Bulldogs tied things up in the top half of the second when they put together three hits, which included an infield base hit for Jenay Scott (Merced, CA), a bloop single into centerfield by Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA) and an Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) single through the left side. Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) then stepped in and collected an RBI on a fielder's choice.
In the next half inning TLU reclaimed the lead on a fielder's choice and a second sacrifice fly of the game. In the third the Bulldogs made it 4-1 with an RBI ground out as all five runs to this point had come on productive outs.
Redlands starting pitcher Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) helped herself as she narrowed the margin to two, 4-2, in the top of the fifth with a single that scored pinch runner Saya Fujii (San Jose, CA).
Following the fifth run for TLU on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth, Provenzano added her second RBI on a double into right, which plated Kim who doubled in the at-bat earlier.
Natalie Lopez (Long Beach, CA) and Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA) followed with a single and a walk, but a fielder's choice, with the out recorded at home, and a foul out ended the frame with the game at 5-3.
After Caitlynn Griffith (Pala, CA)) worked around a leadoff single and stolen base to keep it a two-run game, Redlands' offense got a one-out walk from Scott. But she was out on a fielder's choice. Kim kept the game alive as she became the tying runner with her third hit of the game, a single to right. But a flyout, though, ended things with Redlands' 10th and 11th runners left on base of the game.
Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA), Natalie Lowthers (Wrightwood, CA), and Holshoe all had two hits with Kim leading the way with three. Scott and Lopez both had a hit and a walk.
Gandara got the start and allowed five earned runs across 4.1 innings. Griffith did not allow a run despite three walks and a hit over the final 1.2 innings stranding four runners.
Redlands returns Friday, May 22 and will need to win both games of the doubleheader to advance to the NCAA Division III Women's College World Series in Virginia next week. Game one of the doubleheader begins at 11:00 a.m. pacific time.
