The University of Redlands softball team hosted the Pipers of Hamline University (MN) in a non-conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon at the Field of Dreams.  After the Bulldogs saw the first game slip away in a seventh-inning, Hamline rally, they bounced back in the second game for an impressive 12-3, five-inning rout on 12 hits. 

The teams traded home runs in the third inning of the opener, with senior shortstop Ursyla Baumgarten (Penngrove, CA) going yard for the Bulldogs' first run of the game.

During the fourth frame, Redlands pushed two across off sophomore left fielder Jaci Sanchez's (Lakewood, CA) double down the left-field line and junior right fielder Jennifer Ng's (Pleasanton, CA) single through the right side.  Furthermore, senior first baseman Olivia Vierra (Burlingame, WA) provided a leadoff double to get things started, while senior third baseman Lali Garza (Granite Bay, CA) became a baserunner on a walk with two outs.

Although Hamline scored once in the top of the fifth, junior pitcher Lindsey Mifsud (Belmont, CA) had allowed only three hits through this juncture of the game and her team remained in front, 3-1.

However, the Pipers put together an impressive rally in the top of the seventh by scoring four runs on five hits to take a 6-3 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Baumgarten unleashed her second dinger of the game but the Bulldogs' rally ended there, resulting in the difficult 4-6 loss for the home team.

Baumgarten completed game one with a 4-for-4 showing at the plate that included two RBI and two runs scored.

During the nightcap, Redlands flipped an offensive switch and lit up the Pipers' pitcher with nine runs in the first two innings.  While batting around in the bottom of the second, the Bulldogs gained a bases-clearing triple from junior second baseman Jordyn Smith (Highland, CA) to make it 9-0.  Earlier in the frame, junior catcher Nova Siegel (Fairfield, CA) blasted a two-RBI single through the right side, while Ng, Baumgarten, and junior designated player Mika Imoto (Vista, CA) each provided an RBI.

The Bulldogs tacked on three more runs on three hits in the bottom of the third to extend the spread to 12.  Senior pinch hitter Elise Ramirez (Redlands, CA), first-year pinch hitter Ryanna Curtis (Upland, CA), and Smith each recorded RBI.

However, once again, the Pipers managed a late-game surge, with this one resulting in three runs on four hits in the top of the fifth frame.  Nonetheless, the Bulldogs settled down and came up with the key defensive plays to capture the 12-3, shortened win.

First-year pitcher Jocelyn Hernandez (Downey, CA) was dealing from the circle and finished the game with a career-high seven strikeouts in the five-inning victory.

Siegel was 3-for-3 from the plate with two RBI and three runs scored as the Bulldogs' leadoff hitter in the second game.  Smith finished with four RBI on a 2-for-3 effort.

Redlands (9-13) heads to Cal Lutheran University on Sunday, March 25, for a conference doubleheader against the Regals.  First pitch is set for 12 noon in Thousand Oaks.