No. 11 UR Softball Nabs Doubleheader Sweep of Cal Lutheran

Junior pitcher Kayla Uphold provided the game-winning hit.
Junior pitcher Kayla Uphold provided the game-winning hit.

The No. 11 University of Redlands softball team completed a season sweep of Cal Lutheran University by pulling out wins of 1-0 and 2-1 during Saturday's twin bill at the "Field of Dreams."

After scattering four hits and tying her season-high of six strikeouts, junior pitcher Kayla Uphold (Fontana, CA) helped herself at the plate with an RBI-single with two outs to win game one.

In this pitchers' duel, the teams combined for 10 hits and 11 left on base, setting up an exciting finish in the final inning. After the Bulldogs took advantage of the only CLU miscue of the game, senior third baseman Molly Duran (Corona, CA) laid down a great bunt to move over senior second baseman Arlene Martinez (Corona, CA). Senior right-fielder Breanna Ruelas (Brawley, CA) stepped up with her second hit of the day, lacing a single through the right side. Uphold clocked the game-winning knock, also penetrating the right side with her one-bagger.

In addition to Ruelas, Uphold and sophomore center-fielder Amanda Lievanos (Anaheim, CA) recorded two hits apiece for Redlands.

En route to racking up 12 hits in game two, the Maroon and Gray pushed across single runs in similar fashion during the first and third innings. Lievanos provided solid RBI-hits to score Uphold in both cases. The center-fielder's opening knock resulted in her team-leading eighth double of the season.

Ruelas collected her ninth win from the circle, fanning four Regals and dispersing four hits.

CLU's only score came on the heels of a Bulldog error in the top of the sixth inning.

Within the SCIAC standings, Redlands (21-7, 15-1 SCIAC) maintains its three-game lead on the second-place Athenas of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. The Bulldogs return to action on Sunday when they host Chapman University for "Strikeout Cancer" at 12 noon.