The No. 20 University of Redlands softball team took to the road for the first time this season and came home with a doubleheader sweep of NAIA foe La Sierra University. The Bulldogs posted a 4-0 shutout in Sunday's opener and then capped off the series with a 3-1 decision over the Golden Eagles.
During the first game, the Maroon and Gray relied on a three-run effort in the third inning to gain a lead that held up through the final play. With two outs, junior right-fielder Janelle Carrasco (Whittier, CA) took first on a hit-by-pitch before senior center-fielder Sarah Beeman (Corona, CA) was walked. Sophomore designated player Nikoli Sharp (Lincoln, CA) crushed a single down the left-field line to plate Carrasco. She advanced on the throw, with Beeman making it to third. Freshman first baseman Tori Santos (West Covina, CA) stepped up with a bases-clearing single down the other side of the field, resulting in a 3-0 advantage for the Bulldogs.
Redlands tacked on another run in the sixth when a failed pickoff at first and two La Sierra errors allowed freshman pinch-runner Kayleigh Meyers (Ferndale, CA) to cross home plate.
Senior pitcher Kayla Uphold (Fontana, CA) threw a complete-game shutout, fanning three and scattering two hits in the process.
Redlands relied on single runs in three innings during the night cap, prevailing by a score of 3-1 over the Golden Eagles.
Beeman opened the scoring for the Maroon and Gray by connecting on her first of three doubles for the game. Her first two-bagger came with junior second baseman Amanda Clark (Riverside, CA) on base after reaching on a walk and then stealing second.
Sophomore Linda Park (Torrance, CA) saw time on the diamond for the first time this season, playing third base for Redlands. In the top of the fourth, she stepped up with a sacrifice fly to plate Meyers, who pinch-ran for freshman catcher Dani Santos (West Covina, CA) after she led off with a double of her own.
Finally, the Bulldogs nabbed their third run of the game in the fifth frame when Beeman came home on an error.
Junior pitcher Kaitlyn Hooper (Riverside, CA) went the distance for the Bulldogs, striking out three and dispersing four hits in her first win of the season.
Redlands (3-1) takes a break from competition in order to host its annual alumnae game on Sat., Feb 9, at 1 p.m. The Bulldogs return to action on Sat., Feb. 16, when they host Pomona-Pitzer Colleges in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader at the "Field of Dreams," beginning at 12 noon.
