The University of Redlands softball team welcomed George Fox University (OR) to the Field of Dreams and grabbed its fifth-straight win on Thursday afternoon, but ultimately settled for a doubleheader split with the Bruins. The Bulldogs opened with a solid, 6-4 win but followed with a 0-14 loss in the nightcap.
The Bruins opened with the first run of the day, but the Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the first. With one out, junior left fielder Tsianina Flores (Corona, CA) doubled down the left-field line and advanced to third on a passed ball. Junior first baseman Abigail Bates (Moreno Valley, CA) gave her the green light home with a base hit to left to tie the game 1-1.
George Fox took back the lead with a run in the top of the second, but Redlands exploded for four runs in the third to jump in front 5-2. Flores led the inning off with a single through the 3-4 gap and was joined on base by junior right fielder Sam Rivas (Whittier, CA). With one out, first-year third baseman Madison Alves (Kingsburg, CA) doubled to score Flores and the Bulldogs proceeded to load the bases on the next play.
The Bruins found their second out, but Rivas scored in the process. Alves came home on a wild pitch and first-year center fielder Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) singled up the middle to score another run before George Fox could end the inning.
Redlands tacked on another run in the fourth as Rivas got a two-out rally going with a base hit to right-center. She stole second and then rounded third to come home on a Bates single, 6-2.
George Fox tried to rally by plating two runs in the top of the fifth, but the Bulldogs wouldn't allow anymore to secure the 6-4 victory. First-year pitcher Rachel McClure (Fairfield, CA) picked up the win in the circle with two strikeouts, while first-year pitcher Madeline Gonzalez (Colton, CA) threw five strikeouts in 2.1 innings to grab the save.
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs could not get their bats hot and dropped the nightcap 0-14 in a shortened game.
Redlands (5-2) turns right around to host Brandeis University (MA) for a doubleheader on Friday, February 21, with the first pitch set for noon.
