Gallery: (6-2-2026) Softball vs. Trine - WCWS Champ Ser. GM1
SALEM, Va. – The University of Redlands softball team (47-6) is only one game away from their first NCAA Division III softball national championship after run-ruling Trine University, 11-3, in six innings Tuesday morning in game one of the Women's College World Series (WCWS) Championship Series.
Despite the dominant win, it was the Thunder who held an early 3-0 lead after two and a half innings thanks to a three-run first inning when they connected on two home runs.
In the third inning, the Bulldogs scored six times, their fifth consecutive game with five runs scored or better in an inning. Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA) and Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) started the inning off with a pair of bunt singles. Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) then blooped a single down the left field line and due to a fielding error Bard was able to come in and score. Natalie Lowthers (Wrightwood, CA) then stepped in and singled to right center plating Gomez. After a Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) bunt single that loaded the bases Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA) connected on one of the biggest hits of the game, a bases clearing triple that moved the score to 5-3. Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) then followed adding a sixth run with a foul out sacrifice fly.
In the fourth Holshoe tallied her fourth RBI on the day coming with two outs when she brought in Scott from second who walked and stole second.
Following a scoreless fifth, Redlands ended the game early with four runs on four hits in the sixth. Scott and Holshoe each singled down the lines, left and then right, before Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) hit a pitch back up the middle plating two for an eight-run lead, 11-3, which engaged the run-rule.
Scott and Holshoe each finished with three hits, while Gomez and Gandara each recorded two of their own to help the Bulldogs total 13 on the morning. Seven of Redlands' 10 RBI's came from Holshoe and Kim. Scott and Kim also had two stolen bases each.
Gandara got her 24th win on the season after throwing six innings with three earned runs allowed. After allowing five of her eight hits and two of her three walks in the opening two frames, she settled in with only four total hits/walks over her final 4.1 innings.
Redlands will need to win only once tomorrow, Wednesday, June 3 against Trine to secure the Division III National Championship title. Game two of the series is set for 8:00 a.m. pacific time with the if necessary game three about 30 minutes later.
