The University of Redlands softball team completed the season sweep over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges with a pair of wins during Friday's important Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) showdown in Claremont. In the opener, sophomore pitcher Lindsey Mifsud (Belmont, CA) threw a complete-game shutout while dispersing only three hits in a fine outing. The Bulldogs remained diligent in the nightcap by stringing together timely hits and providing errorless defense for the 5-2 win.
The Bulldogs scored in the top of the first to begin the doubleheader on a positive note. Junior second baseman Shannon Skrzynski (Pomona, CA) set the tone with her lead-off single before junior catcher Lali Garza (Granite Bay, CA) sent her home with a long double to left field.
With a run on the board, Mifsud cruised with confidence through the first and second frames while retiring the side in each.
Redlands recorded an insurance run in the top of the fifth off the bat of Skrzynski, who doubled to right field to plate senior centerfielder Amanda Ang (Santa Cruz, CA). Ang began the Bulldogs' two-out rally with a single to left field.
With the shutout in sight, Mifsud kept calm in the circle and displaced only one hit over the final two frames while relying on her flawless defense.
Skrzynski and Garza each recorded a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.
Redlands kept things rolling in the second contest as Skrzynski began the game with another leadoff single. She made her way to third on an error and a groundout before Smith stepped up for the RBI-play to right field.
Although the Sagehens took the lead with single runs in the first and third frames, the Bulldogs immediately answered with a three-hit, two-run effort in the top of the fourth. With runners on second and third, junior catcher Olivia Vierra (Burlingame, CA) knocked a single to left field to score two in the lucrative inning.
The top of the sixth saw Redlands put together another two-out rally, as Ang singled to center field for an RBI. Sophomore right fielder Jennifer Ng (Pleasanton, CA) touched home on the play after uncorking a single two batters earlier.
With freshman pitcher Nicole Stanzione (San Marcos, CA) and sophomore hurler Mika Imoto (Vista, CA) teaming up from the circle, the Bulldogs minimized Pomona-Pitzer's offense through seven innings. Redlands escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second frame while relying on stellar defensive plays.
Senior third baseman Summer Smith (Redlands, CA) put the exclamation point on the win by going yard for the eighth time this season.
Smith, Skrzynski, and junior shortstop Ursyla Baumgarten (Penngrove, CA) each recorded two hits in the second game.
Redlands (12-16, 8-8 SCIAC) faces a quick turnaround with Saturday's doubleheader at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges, which is slated to begin at 12 noon.