After being rained out on Feb. 27, the University of Redlands softball team returned to action on Saturday with a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader at Whittier College. The Bulldogs struggled in the opener but pulled out a 9-7 victory over the Poets, and then decisively took down their opponents in the nightcap by a score of 12-1 in just five innings.

During the first game, Redlands put one on the board in the opening inning on an RBI-double from sophomore third baseman Lindsay Henry (Lake Elsinore, CA). She plated freshman short stop Kirsten Milliner (Torrance, CA), who started the game with a single up the middle.

The Poets responded in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run to take the lead at 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs answered back to tie it with a classic squeeze play by senior designated player Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA) to bring in sophomore right fielder Breanna Ruelas (Brawley, CA).

The Maroon and Gray’s momentum continued with a five-run explosion in the fifth inning for the 7-2 lead. Redlands muscled out five hits and scored five runs with freshman left fielder Sarah Beeman (Corona, CA) leading the offensive onslaught with a two-RBI-single to plate senior center fielder Kayla Peterson (San Jose, CA) and Milliner. Ruelas followed suit with a double to left field, scoring Beeman and junior first baseman Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA).  With sophomore pinch runner Kirstie Bender (Lakewood, CA) stepping in for Ruelas, Doeppel drove her in on a single to left center to wrap up the scoring for the fifth inning.

However, the Poets stormed back with a two-run performance in the bottom of the frame, cutting the lead to three.

In the top of the sixth, Henry provided a run by knocking one out of the park, making it 8-4 with one-and-a-half innings to play.

Once again, Whittier closed in on the Bulldogs with a three-run burst off of Doeppel, who took over the pitching duties for senior hurler Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA).

With an 8-7 lead, the Maroon and Gray earned an insurance run in the top of the seventh frame when Doeppel singled to left field and eventually scored Bender from first.

The Bulldogs shut down the Poets in the bottom of the inning, facing just three batters for three outs.

Henry and Doeppel each recorded two hits for Redlands, as Doeppel led the Bulldogs with three RBI.

In 6.1 innings of work, Ellis struck out three and gave up four earned runs in her fourth win of the season.

During the nightcap, the Bulldogs struggled on defense with five errors but racked up 13 hits en route to the 12-1 victory in just five innings.

After giving up a run in the bottom of the first, the Maroon and Gray answered back by rallying for eight runs in the second and four in the fourth.

In the second inning, sophomore second baseman Molly Duran (Corona, CA) initiated the scoring with a single down the left-field line that enabled Ruelas and Beeman to cross home plate. Peterson posted a grand slam to put the Bulldogs in prime position at 6-1, but Redlands stayed hot for two more runs when senior pitcher Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA) belted one over the fence for a two-run knock.

After Casillas tripled to lead off the fourth inning, Beeman drove her in with a single to left field. Milliner also notched an RBI with a single up the middle, which was followed by another solid hit from Peterson, who doubled to right field to score two runs.

Ruelas gained the win from the mound in five innings of work with three strikeouts and just two hits. She also contributed a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with one run scored.

Peterson went 3-for-4 with six RBI and one run scored, while Neumann was 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run.

Redlands’ Sunday doubleheader with Chapman University was postponed due to wet conditions at El Camino Real Park in Orange. A reschedule date is to be determined.

The Bulldogs (8-4, 6-0 SCIAC) look forward to playing at home on Sat., March 13, when they host the Occidental College Tigers in a conference doubleheader at the Softball “Field of Dreams” at 12 noon.