The University of Redlands softball team pounded out 27 hits and put up 25 runs against Whittier College in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader on Friday afternoon at the "Field of Dreams". Despite giving up two home runs in the opening inning, the Bulldogs settled down for a 10-3 victory in the first game. A seven-run explosion in the third inning of the nightcap propelled Redlands to an impressive 15-2 win, resulting in the sweep over the Poets.
The Bulldogs endured a shaky start in the first game, as senior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) gave up two uncharacteristic blasts over the fence to face a three-run deficit after one inning.
However, Redlands answered in the bottom of the inning by making heads-up plays on base while cranking out three hits and three runs to even the score.
The game remained knotted at three until the bottom of the fourth when the Bulldogs scored two to take a 5-3 lead. The Maroon and Gray capitalized on two Poet errors while gaining an RBI from sophomore shortstop Kai Masutani (Honolulu, HI).
Redlands' momentum continued in the fifth inning when senior designated player Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA) crushed a grand slam with no outs.
The Bulldogs scored once more in the sixth as Doeppel provided a single up the middle to plate senior catcher Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA), who led off the inning with a hit and then stole second base.
Ellis posted a winning effort in a complete game with nine strikeouts while scattering three hits. She improves to 15-4 on the season with 15 complete games.
During the nightcap, Whittier struck first once again, scoring one run in the opening inning.
Nonetheless, the Bulldogs responded with two runs as Neumann posted her seventh knock of the season with a shot over the left field fence.
The Poets mustered another run in the second inning, tying the score at two.
But from here on it was all Redlands, which posted offensive showings of three, seven and three runs, respectively, in the remaining innings, leading to the 15-2 rout after five. The Bulldogs batted around the order during two of those outbursts.
Neumann notched her second dinger of the day to lead off the fourth inning. She went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and three RBI during the second game alone.
In addition, sophomore outfielder Kirstie Bender (Lakewood, CA) recorded four RBI on a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Sophomore pitcher Breanna Ruelas (Brawley, CA) earned the win from the circle in four innings of work. She struck out two while allowing five hits. Freshman Jessica Wagner (Yucaipa, CA) gained her first appearance on the mound, posting one walk and one hit in the fifth inning.
Redlands (26-10, 17-3 SCIAC) remains in second place among the conference schools, sitting one game behind Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. The Bulldogs head to Occidental College on Saturday for a 12 noon SCIAC doubleheader against the Tigers.
