MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – The University of Redlands Softball team (27-15) held leads of 4-1 and 6-5 at No. 4 Linfield University Thursday afternoon in the opening game of the NCAA Division III Tournament, McMinnville Regional before allowing two runs in the bottom half of the seventh inning as they fell 7-6 to the Wildcats.

Despite UR holding a commanding lead early, the Wildcats were the first to score as they made it 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning thanks to an RBI-single into center field.

In the next half inning Paige Messenlehner (Easton, CA) led off the inning with a home run to left field. The solo shot was her first of the season and second of her career.

After a pair of quick outs following the home run, Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) kept the inning alive with a single into center and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA) took advantage of the runner in scoring position as she drove in Horton for a 2-1 Maroon and Grey lead.

Starting pitcher Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) helped herself with a two-run single in the fourth to extend the lead to 4-1. The first baserunner was Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) who walked with one out. Messenlehner then followed with her second extra-base hit as she doubled into left center to put two runners in scoring position. After a pop up that put two outs on the board, Gandara pinch hit and singled home both Long and Messenlehner.

Gandara was able to consolidate the inning by shutting down the Wildcats in the bottom half of the fourth as she worked around a lead-off single thanks to a fly out and a double play she started that went 1-4-3.

In the fifth Linfield was able to score three times, all coming on base hits after two singles to lead off the inning and then a fielder's choice that saw the runner at first make it to second thanks to an error. Gandara would work around runners on first and second with nobody out as she got another double play, 5-3, and then a fly out to center to keep the game tied at four after five.

In the sixth the Bulldogs had a pair of runners reach base thanks to an error and another walk drawn by Long.  But neither were able to get past first as the game was still tied in the middle of the frame.

The Wildcats took their first lead since the bottom of the second when they took advantage of a leadoff triple and a sacrifice fly to hold a 6-5 advantage with only three outs remaining for the Bulldogs.

Gandara again came to the plate in the top half of the seventh and reached as she drew a walk representing the tying run. Gandara would then be pinch run for by Layla Mendoza (Salinas, CA). The game looked in hand for Linfield after a pair of fly outs to left, but an error with two outs allowed Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) to reach. Then Avery Duran (Corona, CA) doubled into right center and both Mendoza and Kershner would come around putting the Bulldogs back on top, 6-5.  

Linfield put together a rally in their final at-bats picking up a pair of hits to start off their half of the seventh as the tying run was at second and the winning run was at first. The Wildcats advanced both runners into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, and then a fielding error allowed both runs to score as they walked it off 7-6.

Offensively Horton, Long, Messenlehner, and Gandara each reached base safely twice. Horton was 2-for-4 with a run, Long walked twice and scored once, Messenlehner had two extra-base hits and finished 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, and Gandara went 1-for-1 with a walk and two RBI's.

In the circle Gandara allowed seven runs, four earned, with only one walk and four strikeouts as she worked around 12 hits.

The Bulldogs and Wildcats play Games 2 & 3, Friday, May 19 with game times set for 2:00pm and 4:30pm.  Redlands needs to come away with at least a split to keep the series alive.