Under cloudy skies and the threat of rain, the University of Redlands softball game split results against visiting Hope International University in today’s non-conference doubleheader that was rescheduled from February 6. The Royals came back in the sixth inning to steal the 3-1 win in the first game and then the Bulldogs broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth of the nightcap to earn a 4-1 victory.

During the opener, Redlands posted a run in the fourth inning as junior third baseman Aleisha Martinez (Escondido, CA) punched a single through the right side with the bases loaded. Unfortunately, the runner from second base was caught in a pickle on the play to end the inning.

Held scoreless through five innings, Hope International finally plated two runs in the top of the sixth to take the lead. Redlands endured two costly errors and gave up an RBI-double followed by a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded.

Redlands put up two hits in the bottom of the inning but left two runners on base without a score.

The Royals produced an insurance run in the seventh by taking advantage of another Bulldog error that was complemented by an RBI-single up the middle.

The Maroon and Gray strung together two hits with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning but struggled to bring them home, resulting in the 1-3 loss.

Senior pitcher Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA) threw a complete game from the mound, striking out seven in the defeat.

The Bulldogs quickly bounced back in the second game by scoring one in the first inning. After senior center fielder Kayla Peterson (San Jose, CA) reached on an error, senior catcher Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA) connected on a single through the left side to move her to second. Junior first baseman Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA) knocked one up the middle and then advanced on the throw, scoring Peterson for the first run of the game.

Hope International eventually answered with a run in the fourth inning on back-to-back doubles.

Redlands finally erupted in the sixth with a three-run outburst to make it a 4-1 game. Sophomore third baseman Lindsay Henry (Lake Elsinore, CA) led off with a single down the right field line and then crossed home plate on a triple by Casillas. Freshman left fielder Sarah Beeman (Corona, CA) drove in Casillas on a double down the left field line. Finally, sophomore right fielder Breanna Ruelas (Brawly, CA) provided the third multi-base hit of the inning with a triple to right center, bringing home Beeman.

The final inning saw three-up and three-down for the Royals, giving a solid 4-1 victory to the Bulldogs.

Senior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) provided strong pitching for seven innings, striking out five and allowing just three hits.

Casillas led the offense with a 2-for-3 showing with two RBI and one run scored. She also made stellar plays at first base with 10 putouts.

Redlands (6-4, 4-0 SCIAC) takes to the road for its next three doubleheaders, stopping first at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges for a conference showdown on Feb. 27 at 12 noon.