SALEM, Va. – The University of Redlands softball team (44-6) started their NCAA Division III Women's College World Series (WCWS) with a 9-7 come-from-behind victory over the No. 4 seed Linfield University Thursday afternoon.
The Bulldogs found themselves behind 2-0 after one inning as Linfield utilized a double and a single to jump in front early. Redlands though battled back to tie things up in the top half of the second. Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) drew a lengthy walk and she was followed by an Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) single right back up the middle. Following a wild pitch that moved both runners up 60 feet a single on the infield by Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) would put UR on the scoreboard.
The Wildcats responded in the bottom of the second with a two-run shot that again put the U of R behind by two. In the fourth Redlands grinded out another run to make it a one-run game. Gomez started things off with a one out single up the middle before advancing to third following a Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) double down the right field line. After a Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) walk that loaded the bases Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA) stepped in and brought in one with a 12-pitch walk with the bases loaded in the fourth.
Linfield was the lone scoring team in the fifth with a solo home run down the left field line, which pushed the score to 5-3. The very next half inning Redlands put together a two-out rally. Scott started the inning off with a single right back up the middle. Holshoe then followed with a base knock to right that plated an unearned run making it a one-run game, 5-4, heading into the bottom of the sixth.
For the third time in six innings, both teams tallied runs as a single back up the middle would put the Bulldogs down two, 6-4, heading into the final frame.
Beginning the seventh Redlands had five consecutive singles starting with pinch hitter Alyson Stofila (Corona, CA) and continuing with Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA), Gomez, Gandara, and Natalie Lowthers (Wrightwood, CA). Gandara and Lowthers picked up the tying RBI's.
With the game tied at six, Scott sent one back to the pitcher, and due to the speed on it Gomez was able to come across putting UR in front 7-6. The biggest hit of the inning came from pinch hitter Avery Duran (Corona, CA) who doubled home a pair with what would be the game-winning hit, a two bagger into deep left.
Bulldog Head Coach Jose Ortega decided to go with Caitlynn Griffith (Pala, CA) for just her second start on the season. The freshman southpaw got the first two outs in the bottom of the seventh before allowing a solo home run and a single, which brought the tying run to the plate. On a 1-1 pitch Griffith got the fly out to Scott in center and the Bulldogs took down the Wildcats for the first time in the postseason since May 17, 2024, when they won 4-2 in Oregon.
Gomez and Gandara had seven total hits with three runs scored, two RBI's, and a walk. Scott and Provenzano each had two hits too.
Griffith remains undefeated on the season at 13-0 after throwing her first complete game, allowing seven runs on seven hits.
Redlands plays the winner of the first game of the day, which was won by the No. 8 seed Rowan University over previous undefeated and 50-0 Virginia Wesleyan University (WVU), tomorrow, May 29 at 8:00 a.m. pacific time.
