Coming off a come-from-behind victory yesterday, the University of Redlands softball team used it to fuel two more victories over Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) foe Chapman University on Saturday afternoon.
Redlands didn't waste any time to get on the board, plating a run in its first chance at the plate. Sophomore shortstop Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) drew four balls to get on base and proceeded to steal second. She made her way to third and came home on a sophomore first baseman Tyesen Gordon (Lathrop, CA) single down the right-field line, 1-0.
The Panthers responded with two runs, scoring in the first and second innings before the Bulldogs evened things up in the top of the third.
Gordon led the inning off with a double to left and was joined on base by two more Bulldogs to load the bases. Chapman got it's second out to threaten to end the inning, but first-year third baseman Madison Alves (Kingsburg, CA) kept a good eye at the plate and walked aboard to advance all three runners and tie the score at 2-2.
Once again, however, Chapman had a response and scored three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take back the lead, 5-2.
The Bulldogs came alive in the fifth, once again tying the score up with three runs of their own. Senior designated player Jaci Sanchez (Lakewood, CA) led the frame off with a single to right and sophomore Hayley DiMase (Eastvale, CA) took over base-running for her. Junior second baseman Desiree Moran (Bakersfield, CA) joined DiMase on base and the pair moved into scoring position on a Panther wild pitch. First-year catcher Megan Watkins (Beaumont, CA) knocked an RBI single to score DiMase before the Bulldogs loaded the bases.
Chapman managed to get the force out at home, but the bases were still loaded for Redlands as Gordon stepped up to the plate. Gordon hit a hard ball to shortstop, sending two runners home to tie the game, 5-5.
Redlands kept the Panthers off the board for the next two innings and took the lead in the top of the seventh. Junior center fielder Sam Rivas (Whittier, CA) blasted a triple to center, sending junior left fielder Tsianina Flores (Corona, CA) home for the go-ahead run and then came home after Bates singled to right.
It gave the Bulldogs a two-run cushion heading into the bottom of the seventh, just needing three outs to secure the victory. The Panthers managed to get one runner on, but Redlands didn't allow her to come home, grabbing the 7-5 win.
First-year pitcher Madeline Gonzalez (Colton, CA) picked up the win in the circle, throwing 4.1 innings without a run.
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs out-hit the Panthers 13-to-4 to win the game 8-3. Horton had a stellar appearance at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI.
Once again, Redlands scored in its first chance at bat. With Horton on second, Flores singled deep to left-center to send her home, 1-0.
Chapman scored two runs in the bottom of the first, but the Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the second with a Horton RBI single and then jumped out in front with an explosive fourth inning.
With two runners on and no outs, Horton singled to center and Alves came home for the go-ahead run. Flores followed with an RBI double and Gordon hit a sacrifice fly to send Horton home after tagging up at third, 5-2. Bates and Sanchez each drove runners home before the Panthers could end the inning to extend Redlands' lead to 7-2.
Chapman tacked on a run in the bottom of the fifth, but an error in the top of the seventh gave the Bulldogs the 8-3 victory.
First-year pitcher Rachel McClure (Fairfield, CA) grabbed the win with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings of action in the circle, allowing just one run.
Redlands (4-1, 3-0 SCIAC) returns to the Field of Dreams for three consecutive doubleheaders at home starting with George Fox on Thursday, February 20, at 12 noon.