The University of Redlands softball team ventured on its Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) schedule by facing off against the No. 12 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges Athenas on Friday at home under great conditions at the Field of Dreams. Despite putting together solid performances in each game, the Bulldogs dropped both games by the final scores of 2-4 and 0-1.
In game one, senior hurler Lauren Henson (Highland, CA) entered the circle for the start and pitched effectively early by blanking the Athenas through the first two frames.
However, CMS worked to grab a 4-0 lead entering into the bottom of the sixth inning, putting the Bulldogs' backs against the wall in hopes for an offensive response.
Senior second baseman Vicki King (Thousand Oaks, CA) provided a loud response in the bottom of the sixth inning by launching a solo jack to left field to trim Redlands' deficit to 1-4.
The Bulldogs went back to work offensively in the bottom of the seventh inning, as freshman catcher Tawney Lilley (Alta Loma, CA) led off the inning with a screaming single up the middle. Sophomore shortstop Shannon Skrzynski (Pomona, CA) followed a batter later with a single down the right-field line to set up runners on first and third with one out. Senior center-fielder AJ Carrasco (Whittier, CA) followed by lining a sacrifice fly out to left field, allowing senior pinch runner Marissa Romero (Manteca, CA) to touch home, cutting the deficit to 2-4.
Unfortunately, the Bulldogs' comeback hopes were faltered en route to a 2-4 loss.
Henson picked up the loss after going the distance and allowing four runs while striking out three batters.
Lilley notched two hits on the day, while King launched the solo homerun in the sixth inning.
In game two, a pitchers' duel presented itself with freshman hurler Lindsey Mifsud (Belmont, CA) leading the Bulldogs. Despite giving up a first-inning run, Mifsud was flawless the remainder of her journey in the circle by allowing a mere mark of three hits while striking out two batters.
The Bulldogs struggled on offense by stranding nine runners on base throughout the contest en route to a 0-1 defeat.
The Bulldogs (14-8, 6-6 SCIAC) continue SCIAC play tomorrow, March 26, by facing off against the Pomona-Pitzer Colleges Sagehens at home on the Field of Dreams. Game times are set for 12 noon and 2 p.m.
