The 23rd-ranked University of Redlands softball team took two from Whittier College in Tuesday's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader, resulting in the Poets' first two losses of the 2014 season. The Bulldogs exploded for 12 hits and 10 runs in the opener, closing out the victory in six innings by a score of 10-2. During the night cap, the Maroon and Gray gained two home runs en route to a 4-1 win over the Poets.
During the opener, sophomore shortstop Vicki King (Thousand Oaks, CA) initiated the scoring with a two-out double in the first inning, which plated junior first baseman Nikoli Sharp (Lincoln, CA) from second.
After tacking on three runs by the end of the fourth, Redlands put together a breakout inning in the sixth, which was highlighted by senior second baseman Amanda Clark (Riverside, CA) uncorking a two-RBI double to make it 10-0 for the Maroon and Gray. All six of the Bulldogs' runs came off of RBI, with senior centerfielder Amanda Lievanos (Anaheim, CA) and sophomore designated hitter Dani Santos (West Covina, CA) connecting on quality singles.
Although the Poets pulled two back in the bottom of the frame, Redlands' defense halted any chance of the game going to a seventh inning when it gunned down a runner at home plate for the third out. On a double to left, sophomore left-fielder AJ Carrasco (Whittier, CA) came up firing and connected with senior catcher Kristen Hooper (Riverside, CA) for the game-ending out.
Senior pitcher Kaitlyn Hooper (Riverside, CA) threw a solid game, scattering eight hits and striking out one. She improved to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in conference with today's win.
During the night cap, King started the Bulldogs' scoring with a two-out, two-run shot over the fence, plating Lievanos after she was walked. King completed the twin bill with a team-high five RBI.
Amidst impressive pitching performances, neither team made its way across home plate, until Kristen Hooper doubled to right centerfield to score Carrasco in the top of the fourth. Earlier in the inning, Carrasco had utilized her speed to beat out a bunt before moving to second on an infield groundout.
After Whittier replaced its pitcher, the Bulldogs recorded an insurance run, as Sharp blasted a homer as the leadoff batter in the fifth frame. She finished the day with a 4-for-7 showing at the plate.
Redlands closed out the 4-1 win with flawless defense.
Sophomore pitcher Lauren Henson (Highland, CA) gained the win after four quality innings in the circle. Freshman Casey Maltz (Palo Alto, CA) stepped up for the final three frames to preserve the win while earning the save.
Redlands (8-6, 6-0 SCIAC) welcomes Chapman University to the Softball "Field of Dreams" on Saturday for a 12 noon doubleheader. Fans may follow the action through Live Stats.
