The University of Redlands softball team capped off a busy weekend by traveling to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges to face the Athenas in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader on Saturday. The Bulldogs struggled to overcome a deficit in the first game and lost by a score of 2-6, before suffering a heartbreaking 1-2 decision in the nightcap.
In the game one, the Athenas put up a crooked number in the bottom of the first to force the Bulldogs into an early hole.
Redlands worked to create an offensive rhythm against the CMS starting pitcher and eventually mustered three hits over the fourth and fifth innings.
After CMS stretched its lead to 5-0, the Bulldogs' efforts at the plate finally paid off, as they strung together three hits for two runs in the top of the sixth. Senior third baseman Summer Smith (Redlands, CA) got things started with a double to right center before junior catcher Lali Garza (Granite Bay, CA) traded places her with a double down the right-field line. With sophomore Jordyn Smith (Highland, CA) stepping in as a pinch runner, Redlands looked to junior shortstop Ursyla Baumgarten (Penngrove, CA) to come up clutch with a long single for the RBI. However, the CMS defense answered the call to halt the Bulldogs' late-game rally there.
The Athenas tacked on one more run and eventually handed the visiting squad a 2-6 loss.
Garza and freshman first baseman Nicole Stanzione (San Marcos, CA) registered two hits apiece.
CMS came out firing in the first inning of the nightcap and earned a 2-0 lead off of what would be their only two hits of the game. Despite the early hole, Stanzione impressed from the circle by retiring the side in the second and fourth innings.
The Bulldog offense came alive in the top of the fifth, as senior centerfielder Amanda Ang (Santa Cruz, CA) drew a walk and moved to second on a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Shannon Skrzynski (Pomona, CA). Senior left fielder Marissa Romero (Manteca, CA) stepped up with the RBI-single to right field, which forced CMS to make a pitching change.
With Stanzione cruising, the Maroon and Gray hoped to overcome the 1-2 deficit in the final two frames but was unsuccessful.
Redlands (12-18, 8-10 SCIAC) remains on the road for its next SCIAC doubleheader by traveling to Whittier College on Friday, April 14. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.