With the help of timely home runs, the University of Redlands
softball team captured two wins over non-conference opponent
Williams College (MA) on Thursday afternoon by scores of 5-4 and
4-1.
In game one, the Bulldogs looked to a late-game rally in the sixth
inning to earn a come-from-behind victory over the Ephs.
The Maroon & Gray initiated the scoring in the first as
sophomore center fielder/first baseman Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA)
brought home junior catcher Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA), who
reached on an error to lead off the inning.
Williams quickly responded in the top of the second, scoring two
runs to gain the lead. After the first batter was walked, the Ephs
put together two hits and took advantage of a wild pitch to plate
third baseman Morgan Simpson and first baseman Emily
Fowler-Cornfeld.
Making the most of two Redlands errors, Williams gained two
more runs in the top of the third inning and seemed in control of
the game.
However, the Bulldogs fought back with a run in the fifth inning as
second baseman Dory Baga (Aiea, HI) singled down the left field
line to bring Neumann home.
Redlands then enjoyed a three-run outburst in the sixth to go ahead
for the first time since the opening inning. Junior center fielder
Kayla Peterson (San Jose, CA) entered the game as a pinch hitter
and legged out a single bunt to the pitcher to initiate the
offense. Freshman short stop Kai Masutani (Honolulu, HI) doubled
but made it to third on an error, scoring Peterson in the process.
Neumann stepped up to the plate and battled back from an 0-2 count,
finally connecting on a two-run shot for the game-winning hit.
Junior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) earned the win from the
mound in seven innings of work, striking out eight batters.
In game two, the Bulldogs scored once in the bottom of the fourth
as Masutani provided an RBI-double to plate freshman pinch runner
Kirstie Bender (Lakewood, CA).
During the fifth, Redlands once again came up with a home run, with
Baga belting one over the fence to score two runs.
After giving up a run in the sixth, the Maroon & Gray gained an
insurance run with senior right fielder Roxy Lambert (La Jolla, CA)
providing a sacrifice fly to score Masutani.
Senior pitcher Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA) threw seven innings
for the Bulldogs, scattering five hits and striking out six.
Redlands (15-8) begins a three-doubleheader road trip on Saturday
with a non-conference twin bill against Chapman University at 12
noon.
