SALEM, Va. – The University of Redlands softball team (48-6) have been crowned the NCAA Division III Softball National Champions for the first time in program history after winning the Women's College World Series (WCWS) Championship Series 2-0 following a 7-6 comeback win over Trine University.
Just like game one yesterday, it was the Thunder jumping out to a big lead, this time a 4-0 advantage after one inning following a sacrifice fly and a three-run home run.
The Bulldogs responded in their second at-bats cutting the deficit to two. Natalie Lowthers (Wrightwood, CA) started the inning off with a 10-pitch walk and then came in following a Jenay Scott (Merced, CA) triple to right field. Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) kep the line moving with an RBI fielder's choice moving the score to 4-2. It then became a one-run game in the 4th Inning with the U of R capitalizing on a Trine fielding error. Natalie Lopez (Long Beach, CA) reached and advanced to second base and was then subbed out for Saya Fujii (San Jose, CA). Brooklyn Bard (Long Beach, CA) then stepped in and singled down the left field line plating Sujii making the score 4-3.
Trine, however, responded with their second home run of the game in the fifth as they extended their lead back to three, 6-3.
Redlands, though continued to battle, scoring three times to tie the game at six in the sixth. Kim started things off with a towering double to left field. Following a groundout by Avery Provenzano (San Jose, CA) that moved Kim to third, Lopez then singled through the left side bringing in one. Bard then sacrificed Lopez over and Leila Gomez (San Bernardino, CA) followed with a single to the shortstop. She moved up 60 feet with a stolen base and Lowthers picked up the biggest hit of the game a two-run single up the middle deadlocking the game.
With the game still tied at six in the top of the seventh, the U of R kept the offense going. Maya Holshoe (Redlands, CA) got a single down the left field line before stealing second. Provenzano then stepped in and singled up the middle driving her in, which would the eventual game-winning run.
After relieving Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) in the fifth, Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) got out of the inning by stranding two runners with a strike out. Then in the sixth she sat the Thunder down in order. In the seventh she induced a groundout back to the circle and a pair of fly outs to Scott in right center that secured the win.
All nine batters who had a plate appearance had a hit with Gandara and Lowthers reaching with a hit and a walk. Scott and Lopez each had two hits and a walk as well.
Gandara went 4.2 innings with six earned runs allowed and four strikeouts. Garcia did not allow a hit and after a walk to her first batter, she did not allow a player to reach over her final 2.1 innings as she earned the win.
Despite getting outhit in terms of home runs 4-0 in the two games, the Bulldogs were plus five in doubles and triples and hit .407 in comparison to Trine's .283. They also had eight steals to the Thunder's three. Also, after getting outscored 7-0 in the first inning, the Bulldogs were plus 16 the remaining six.
This national championship for the Bulldogs comes after never making it to the WCWS prior to last May. The Maroon and Grey won their final six games of the season after starting the NCAA Division III National Championships 3-2.
Redlands loses nine players who played in the championship series but returns their top hitter during the series Scott (.833) along with three other hitters who got starts in the lineup: Gomez, Provenzano, and Lopez.
