The University of Redlands softball squad continued its hunt for a spot in the postseason tournament by squaring off against the Whittier College Poets in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader on a beautiful day at the Field of Dreams. The Bulldogs earned a split with the Poets, rallying back for a 15-2 mercy-rule victory in game two after dropping the opener, 2-6, on a day that honored Annalise Fischer and Strikeout 4 Cancer.
During the nightcap, the Bulldogs worked to avenge the opening loss by scoring two or more runs in every inning.
After Henson was handed the pearl for the second start of the day, she tossed up a zero in the top of the first, allowing the Bulldog bats to go to work in the bottom of the frame. Carrasco and Lievanos each reached on fielding blunders by the Poets, setting up junior left-fielder Grace Rose's (Villa Park, CA) two-RBI single up the middle for Redlands' 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs matched their offensive outcome in the bottom of the second inning when junior designated player Addie Oeleis (Temecula, CA) and Lievanos poked singles up the middle, allowing freshman shortstop Shannon Skrzynski (Pomona, CA) and Carrasco to touch home for a 4-2 advantage.
After Henson sent the Poets offense back to the dugout in order in the top of the third, the Bulldogs were relentless in the bottom of the third inning by plating three more runs. Freshman second baseman Haley Farr (Chino, CA) and Skrzynski each notched an RBI-single, allowing senior pinch-runner Aisha Salami (Gardena, CA) and freshman catcher Lali Garza (Granite Bay, CA) to cross home plate for a 7-2 lead.
Runs remained a hot commodity in the bottom of the fourth, as the Maroon and Gray worked to ink an eight-spot on the board. After King, Rose, and Farr were issued three-consecutive free passes, Garza put the ball in play to plate the first run of the inning. Sophomore pinch-hitter Casey Maltz (Palo Alto, CA) continued the scoring trend with a laser-shot up the middle off the first pitch of her at-bat. Skrzynski followed by making contact with the ball to force the second Poet error of the inning and plate Garza in the process. Carrasco kept the momentum going with a single up the middle, while Lievanos notched a sacrifice fly.
King, who had led off the inning with a walk, put the exclamation point on the offensive outburst by yanking an inside fastball over the left-field fence that hugged the foul pole for a two-run dinger, which put the Bulldogs up by a commanding advantage of 15-2.
Henson picked up her 14th win of the season after tossing five full innings, allowing one earned run, and utilizing her defense to the fullest.
Skrzynski finished the second showdown with a 2-for-3 outing at the dish with two RBI and two runs scored. King went 2-for-3 as well and notched two RBI, two runs scored, a two-run homerun, and a walk.
Earlier in the day, the Poets got things rolling with a three-run advantage through the top of the third, but the Bulldogs responded with two runs of their own. Graduate student right-fielder Amanda Lievanos (Anaheim, CA) stepped up with the bases loaded to put the ball in play, reaching on a fielder's choice while plating junior center-fielder AJ Carrasco (Whittier, CA). Freshman pinch-runner Beverlee Valerio (Monrovia, CA) came around to score on the same play due to an error on the Poets' shortstop, trimming the deficit to one.
Unfortunately, the Maroon and Gray failed to score any more runs, as the Poets eventually hauled in a 2-6 victory.
Junior starter Lauren Henson (Highland, CA) picked up the loss after allowing five earned runs and striking out two batters.
Freshman third baseman Lauren Hernandez (Littleton, CO) was a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish with one walk, while junior first baseman Vicki King (Thousand Oaks, CA) and Carrasco each recorded two knocks.
The Bulldogs (17-19, 11-13 SCIAC) look forward to celebrating Senior Day on Friday, April 24, when they host the University of La Verne Leopards (16-16, 11-9 SCIAC) in a 2 p.m. SCIAC doubleheader at the Field of Dreams.
