The University of Redlands softball team opened a busy weekend of competition with a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader against No. 15 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Friday afternoon at the "Field of Dreams." In a back-and-forth battle, the Bulldogs prevailed by a score of 5-4 in the opener, while the Athenas answered with 6-2 showing in the nightcap.
After CMS scored twice in the top of the first of the opening game, the Maroon and Gray equalized the tally with a two-spot of its own when freshman second baseman Haley Farr (Chino, CA) singled through the right side with the bases loaded. Junior center-fielder AJ Carrasco (Whittier, CA) had led off with a bunt-single and then moved to third on back-to-back singles by graduate student right-fielder Amanda Lievanos (Anaheim, CA) and junior first baseman Vicki King (Thousand Oaks, CA).
After junior starter Lauren Henson (Highland, CA) retired the side in the subsequent inning, the Bulldogs grabbed a 4-2 lead on a pair of unearned runs. With two outs and the bases juiced, King stepped up by firing off a two-RBI single through the left side. She plated Carrasco and junior designated player Grace Rose (Villa Park, CA) after they each connected on a single earlier in the inning.
The back-and-forth excitement continued in the top of the third frame, with the Athenas scoring two to tie it up once again.
From here, both pitchers settled into an efficient rhythm and relied on the solid defenses behind them.
But in the top of the sixth, Redlands garnered a one-run lead that held up for the upset-win over the 15th-ranked team in the country. After back-to-back singles from freshman shortstop Shannon Skrzynski (Pomona, CA) and junior catcher Dani Santos (West Covina, CA), the Bulldogs loaded the bases when junior pinch-hitter Addie Oeleis (Temecula, CA) was walked. Lievanos ripped a single off the bag at third base to bring home Skrzynski for the eventual game-winning run.
Although CMS moved runners to first and third in the top of the seventh, the attempted suicide squeeze failed, as King and Santos combined for the key out at home.
Henson garnered the win with a complete-game effort while striking out two and allowing four runs.
Carrasco, Lievanos, and King all went 2-for-4 at the plate, with King providing two RBI and Carrasco scoring twice.
During the second game, Redlands gave up an early three-run home run, which provided just enough cushion for the Athenas to pull out the 6-2 win.
Despite the rough start, sophomore pitcher Courtney Ludlow (Petaluma, CA) battled through the next three innings to give up only two more runs while fanning two Athenas. She ultimately took the loss after four frames of work.
Redlands notched both runs in the third inning, with Oeleis laying down the bunt to bring home freshman pinch-runner Beverlee Valerio (Monrovia, CA). Lievanos then singled through the left side, allowing Carrasco to cross home plate for the third time on Friday.
Oeleis finished the game with a perfect 3-for-3 showing at the plate with one RBI, while Lievanos notched a 2-for-4 performance.
Redlands (12-14, 6-10 SCIAC) next welcomes the Tigers of Occidental College to the "Field of Dreams" on Saturday, March 28, for 12 noon conference doubleheader.
