The No. 18 University of Redlands softball team took two games from its second nationally-ranked NAIA opponent in as many days, defeating No. 22 Azusa Pacific University in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon. Overall, the Bulldogs recorded 10 hits and scored 12 runs en route to victories of 5-1 and 7-2.
Freshman pitcher Gabrielle Sciuto (Poway, CA) went the distance in the opening contest, striking out four and dispersing five hits in her second complete-game performance of the season.
The Maroon and Gray backed her with aggressive base-running that resulted in five runs on only three hits. Redlands also made the most of three Cougar miscues.
After two scoreless innings, the Bulldogs opened it up with a four-run showing in the top of the third. With two outs and the bases loaded, sophomore center fielder Sarah Beeman (Corona, CA) was walked to bring home the first run of the game. Redlands refused to succumb to a Cougar pitching change and instead looked to senior first baseman Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA) for a well-timed double to right center for three runs.
Although Azusa Pacific mustered a single score in the bottom of the inning, Sciuto quieted her opponents in the remaining at-bats and allowed just one more hit through the final out of the game.
In addition, the Bulldogs tacked on another run on a head's up play in the fourth when the Cougars threw away their third error of the game.
During the second game, Redlands jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning but then exploded for five runs in the third. With no outs, freshman right fielder Amanda Lievanos (Anaheim, CA) stepped up with a three-RBI triple with the bases loaded. Casillas followed suit with her first three-bagger of the season, scoring Lievanos. Finally, senior designated player Stacey Burke (Glendora, CA) provided a well-struck ground-out to the second baseman, sending Casillas home for the score.
The Bulldogs pushed across another run in the top of the fourth as Casillas was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Cougars' only scores of the game came in the bottom of the fourth when freshman designated player Kayla Anderson knocked one out of the park for two runs.
Three Redlands pitchers combined efforts with freshman hurler Rachael Hachadorian (San Diego, CA) earning the victory after four innings of work. She allowed three hits and two runs while fanning two batters.
The Maroon and Gray defense provided a flawless performance in the second game, recording 21 putouts, 12 assists and no errors.
Redlands (11-1, 4-0 SCIAC) returns home to the Softball "Field of Dreams" for a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader against Occidental College on Saturday at 12 and 2 p.m. Fans may follow the action via live stats at http://livestats.prestosports.com/redlands/.