REDLANDS, Calif.- The University of Redlands Softball team put together a nice offensive doubleheader Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough to beat Claremont-M-S as they would take the twin bill 9-6 and 10-7.
The Bulldogs drop the series with the Athenas and move to 9-8, 5-4 SCIAC.
Game 1 (L, 9-6)
The Bulldogs gave up the lead early in Game 1 after an Athena RBI single in the top half of the first, but got that run right back and more in their opening at-bats putting up four on five hits. Collette Allen (Sierra Madre, CA) and Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA) started the frame off with a pair of base hits and Tyesen Gordon (Lathrop, CA) loaded the bases with a walk. Sierra Daley (Torrance, CA) would then bring in one with a base hit to right and would be followed by Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) singling to center that drove in another. After a fielder's choice from Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) that brought in the third run Isabella Culp (Hanford, CA) stepped in with two outs and doubled down the right field line moving the score to 4-1.
The next three innings went scoreless until the top half of the fifth when CMS rallied for five runs on four hits, putting them back on top 6-4. Redlands was able to put together a two out rally in their ensuing at-bats thanks to Kershner and Culp who both singled helping UR tie the game back up.
After a scoreless sixth from both teams, the Athenas struck for the eventual game winning runs as Summers would highlight the inning with a pinch-hit two-run blast, which made it a three score game. Then in one last ditch effort in the bottom half of the seventh UR was able to get the bases loaded with two outs, but saw the comeback fall short as a strike out would end the threat.
At the plate five different Bulldogs reached base multiple times, including Gordon (1-for-3 with a double, run scored, and a walk), Daley (2-for-3 with an RBI and walk), Messenlehner (1-for-2 with two walks, one RBI, and one run scored), Kershner (1-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk), and Culp (2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.
Danielle Stallings (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) and Kershner combined to give up ten hits, nine runs (eight earned), two walks, and one strike out across seven innings. Kershner was tagged with the loss after coming in relief of Stallings. She drops to 0-5.
Game 2 (L, 10-7)
Things did not start well for the Bulldogs in Game 2 as the Athenas jumped out in front 8-0 after the first two innings. Redlands allowed the first five batters of the game to reach which led to three runs and then saw CMS put the first six batters on base in the second before tacking on another five.
Redlands though wasn't ready to concede as they would rally in the bottom half of the second with six runs on five hits to get within two. Messenlehner, Kershner, and Culp started off the frame with singles and Kayla Rivas (Whittier, CA) would get the Bulldogs on the board with a bases-loaded walk.
Allen would then step in and deliver her biggest hit of the season, a grand slam to dead center that cut the deficit to three. But the inning wasn't done as Daley would make it a two-run game thanks to a solo shot to right center bringing the Bulldog faithful to their feet.
In the third Redlands pulled within one thanks to another homerun this time off the bat of Kershner who would connect to left field moving the score to 8-7. But that's as close as Redlands would get as CMS would tack on insurance runs in the fourth and seventh innings to secure the sweep.
Eight Bulldogs reached base safely with Messenlehner (2-for-4) and Kershner (2-for-4) as the only Bulldogs who hit safely twice. Allen was responsible for four of the seven runs as she was 1-for-3 with four RBIs off the grand slam. Kershner was again tagged with the loss after going 3.0 Innings giving up eight runs on eight hits. She is now 0-6 on the season.
Redlands returns to the diamond on Thursday, March 24 for a non-conference doubleheader against Willamette University with first pitches set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.