REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (11-7, 1-1) split their doubleheader with Williams College Monday afternoon with a 7-0 win in Game 2 after dropping Game 1 3-1.
Game 1 (L, 3-1)
Redlands got off to a hot start in the first game of the doubleheader with Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) getting a base hit before stealing second and eventually coming in on a single from Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA).
Starter Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) gave up the tying run on a solo home run in the second, but then held the Ephs scoreless through the sixth. During this time the U of R offense had an opportunity in the bottom half of the second getting the bases loaded with no outs, but left them stranded as a strikeout and a pair of pop-ups ended the threat. In the third UR got a runner in scoring position off the bat of Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, CA) who doubled into left field, but she too was left stranded as a pop-up and strikeout would end the inning.
Redlands who was coming off a 16 run effort against North Central was unable to muster any runs from the second on as Williams would score twice in the seventh to pull off the late victory.
The first four batters for the Bulldogs all had one hit and Horton and Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) each had stolen bases. Gandara picked up the loss, moving to 4-4 going a complete game giving up three runs on 12 hits.
Game 2 (W, 7-0)
The Bulldogs led from the second inning on in Game 2 of the doubleheader. The Maroon and Grey put up a pair of runs on a hit, while using an error to jump in front in the second. Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) started off the inning with a walk before stealing second, advancing to third on a groundout and then coming in on a double steal. Two batters later Horton stepped in and drove in Kim with an RBI single.
In the fourth the Bulldogs put the game away with five runs on three hits, while capitalizing on a pair of errors from Williams. Bard again started the inning off with a walk before stealing second, advancing to third on a groundout and then coming home on a sacrifice fly. Later in the inning with runners on second and third Campos would reach on an error by the third baseman allowing another run to come in. she was followed by an Avery Duran (Corona, CA) triple that plated two and a Kershner single that moved the score to 7-0.
Redlands had three pitchers who combined for seven shutout innings with only three hits allowed. Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) started and got the win after striking out three across four scoreless innings. Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) built off her last outing against North Central throwing two scoreless frames. Then closing it out was Ally Forbell (Salinas, CA) who pitched the seventh and struck out one as the Bulldogs picked up their 11th win.
The Bulldogs have wrapped up their non-conference schedule and will get into SCIAC play as they start a three-game series with Whittier College this weekend, March 24-26. Redlands hosts the Poets for a single game on Friday, March 24 at 3:00pm before traveling to Whittier to take on the purple & Gold in a doubleheader.