THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team collected their second clean sweep within Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play after taking the Saturday doubleheader 12-6 and 4-3 over Cal Lutheran University.

The Bulldogs remain red hot extending their winning streak to four games, while winning five of their last six.  They improve to 17-11, 10-5 SCIAC and have set themselves up for a run at the regular season SCIAC Championship title.     

Game 1 (W, 12-6)

For the second straight game Collette Allen (Sierra Madre, CA) led things off with a leadoff homerun putting the Bulldogs on top early.  They did however give the lead up in the bottom half of the inning as CLU would bring across a pair on two outs.  CLU extended their advantage to 4-1 tacking on another two coming on four hits in the bottom half of the third.  But this lead wouldn't hold as UR would storm back bringing across one in the fourth, another three in the fifth and seven in the sixth. 

Trailing by one in the top half of the fifth Allen led things off with a triple down the right field line.  After two quick outs on the infield Sierra Daley (Torrance, CA) kept the rally going reaching after getting hit by a pitch and Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) would follow with a triple to right field that cleared the bases.  Annabelle Gutierrez (Gilroy, CA) continued the inning with a base hit down the left field line that scored another putting UR on top 5-4.

Things got worse for the Regals in the sixth with Redlands adding seven runs on eight hits, while using two errors that opened the game up.  Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) and Allen put base hits on the infield to lead off the frame and after a pair of throwing errors Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA) would step in and double to left center.  Tyesen Gordon (Lathrop, CA) followed with a single through the right side and that led to Daley who would crank a two-run shot to right center that scored another two.  But the inning wasn't done as Kershner and Danielle Stallings (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) would both double followed by Isabella Culp (Hanford, CA) singling to third base and another run coming in due to a wild pitch.

This moved the score to 12-4 and despite CLU adding a run in the sixth and seventh, it wouldn't be enough to as UR would roll to the Game 1 victory.

Kershner through a complete game going 7.0 Innings giving up six runs on eleven hits, while striking out three.  She improved to 3-6.  The Bulldogs on the game collected 18 hits, which included five doubles, two triples, and two home runs.  Allen finished 4-for-5 scoring three times and driving in another.  Kershner went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two runs batted in and Campos added a 3-for-5 effort scoring once.  Gutierrez and Culp both finished 2-for-4 and Daley was 1-for-4 driving in two and scoring twice.           

Game 2 (W, 4-3)

Redlands again struck in their opening at bats in Game 2 this time with Campos doubling to left center before coming in after a Gordon double down the left field line.  CLU got that run back and more in the bottom half of the inning to go in front, giving them a lead they would hold until the fifth when UR would put together three runs on a couple of hits.  Culp started the inning off with a base hit up the middle and was followed by an Allen walk and Gordon getting hit by a pitch, which loaded the bases.  After that Daley would bring across a run after she too was hit by a pitch and Kershner would drive in two with a single.  The Regals cut the deficit to one in their next at-bats but couldn't do much offensively after that as Stallings would limit any opportunities late allowing the Bulldogs to come away with the sweep.

Stallings picked up the win after going a complete game giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits. She moves to 12-4 on the season.  Redlands totaled another six hits with four of them being for extra bases (three doubles and a triple).  Culp led the offense going 2-for-3 scoring once, Allen was 1-for-2 with a run scored, a run batted in and a pir of walks, and Campos and Kershner both finished 1-for-4.      

Redlands returns to the diamond next weekend, April 15-16 when they open up a three-game series with the University of La Verne.  The Bulldogs will have an away game on Friday (3:00pm) before hosting the Leopards on Saturday for a twin-bill with game times set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.