The University of Redlands softball team faced off against the DePauw University Tigers in non-conference action on Tuesday at the Field of Dreams for an exciting twin bill. With plenty of offence to go around, the Bulldogs completed a two-game sweep of the Tigers by the final scores of 11-3 (6 inn.) and 8-5.
In game one, senior hurler Lauren Henson (Upland, CA) was awarded the start and pitched with a purpose. She began the contest by blanking the Tigers through the first three frames and allowed zero earned runs through her four innings of work. In addition, she recorded one punch out.
The Bulldogs hopped on the scoreboard with an exclamation in the bottom of the third. Senior second baseman Vicki King (Thousand Oaks, CA) dug into the box with two outs and sent a three-run shot over the left-center field wall, plating junior right-fielder Amanda Ang (Santa Cruz, CA) and senior center-fielder AJ Carrasco (Whittier, CA). The power remained potent as sophomore first baseman Ursyla Baumgarten (Penngrove, CA) followed a batter later with a two-run round-tripper, scoring freshman designated player Mika Imoto (Vista, CA) to grab a 5-0 lead.
Redlands followed their five-run, third-inning outburst with three more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Carrasco poking a single through the right-side on the first pitch of her at-bat, scoring freshman pinch runner Jennifer Ng (Pleasanton, CA). Imoto later followed by drawing a walk to push Carrasco across the dish. Ng touched home a handful of pitches later on a wild pitch for the Maroon and Gray's 8-1 lead.
The Bulldogs strapped on their hard hats in the bottom of the sixth inning and earned three more runs, with Baumgarten notching an RBI-single to score senior pinch-runner Marissa Romero (Manteca, CA). Sophomore third baseman Summer Smith (Redlands, CA) joined the RBI-action by putting the ball in play and reaching on a fielder's choice to score sophomore pinch-runner Bev Valerio (Monrovia, CA). Sophomore pinch-hitter Olivia Vierra (Burlingame, CA) put an end to the contest by smacking a double to left field, allowing Baumgarten to score and haul in a mercy-rule induced 11-3 victory.
Henson earned the victory after throwing four innings and scattering three hits and fanning one batter. Freshman reliever Jessica Doss (San Mateo, CA) was effective in the circle by recording two punch outs in two innings of work.
King helmed the game-one offense with a 2-for-2 mark on the ledger that included a three-run jack. Carrasco fired off two hits and scored two runs, while Baumgarten carried heavy lumber by going 2-for-2 with a two-run dinger, three RBI, and two runs scored.
In game two, freshman pitcher Lindsey Mifsud (Belmont, CA) hopped into the circle for the start and was extremely effective. She tossed three innings and gave up a mere hit and a run while punching out two batters in consecutive fashion in the top of the third inning.
The Bulldog offense was hot out of the gate by scoring eight runs through the first three frames, highlighted by a six-run outburst in the bottom of the second inning.
After Baumgarten got the ball rolling with a sacrifice fly to center field to record the first Bulldog run of the game in the bottom of the first frame, junior catcher Lali Garza (Granite Bay, CA) bit off a piece of the RBI-pie in the bottom of the second inning by lacing an RBI-single to left field, scoring freshman designated player Hayley Romo (Port Orchard, WA). Valerio and senior left-fielder Grace Rose (Villa Park, CA) followed with back-to-back RBI-singles to add to the offensive chaos. King capped off the outpouring with an RBI-single to right field, leading to the Bulldogs' 8-1 advantage.
However, the Tigers responded in the top of the fourth inning with a three-spot to stay within striking distance at 8-4.
Junior reliever Casey Maltz (Palo Alto, CA) entered into the circle in the top of the seventh inning in hopes of slamming the door. Despite allowing a run to cross the plate, Maltz settled in and earned the save en route to Redlands' victory.
Mifsud earned the win after tossing three innings of quality softball. Maltz earned the save after chucking one frame.
Valerio was money at the dish by going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Rose stayed hot with a 2-for-4 mark that included two RBI and a run scored. In addition, she swiped one bag.
Romo continued to swing a solid stick by lacing three hits, while King added two.
The Bulldogs (14-6) return to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play on Friday, March 25, by squaring off against the No. 17 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges Athenas (18-5-1) in doubleheader action at the Field of Dreams. Game times are set for 2 p.m. and approximately 4 p.m.
