The University of Redlands welcomed the Chapman University Panthers to the Field of Dreams on Sunday afternoon for a 12 and 2:30 doubleheader. In a 16-run, 22-hit effort and stellar pitching, the Bulldogs completed the sweep of the Panthers by final scores of 8-0 and 8-1.
First-year Kassidy Millar (Everett, WA) started in the circle for the Bulldogs and cruised through the Chapman lineup in the first three innings, striking out four.
Redlands' offense picked up its pitcher in the bottom of the third when they put up four runs on five hits to take a solid lead. Sophomore third baseman Madison Alves (Kingsburg, CA) led off the inning with a triple to the right-field fence. After a hit-by-pitch, junior shortstop Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) sent a single back up the middle to score Alves. First-year second baseman Collette Allen (Sierra Madre, CA) drove an RBI double left before senior left fielder Tsianina Flores (Corona, CA) knocked a base hit that scored Horton. Sophomore right fielder Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, CA) completed the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
The home team added another run in the fourth inning to go up, 5-0.
Chapman threatened in the top of the sixth with one out and the bases loaded. Alves threw home on the subsequent groundball for a fielder's choice and the second out while Horton rolled up the final groundout to escape the inning unscathed.
The Bulldog offense got hot once again in the bottom of the sixth to load the bases on three consecutive singles from Alves, sophomore center fielder Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA), and Horton. Allen then sent a bases-clearing double to the right-center fence for a walk-off, 8-0 win.
Millar went 5.1 innings, struck out five, and was credited with the win.
Chapman jumped on the board with one run in the first inning of game two but sophomore pitcher Madeline Gonzalez (Colton, CA) regrouped to strike out the side in the second inning, two swinging and one looking.
Similar to the first game, the Maroon and Gray put up four runs in the bottom of the third on three hits. After a hit-by-pitch, Campos laced a double down the left-field line. Horton followed that with an RBI single back up the middle. Allen subsequently cleared the bases on a deep home run to left field for a 4-1 lead.
The Bulldogs tacked on three more in the bottom of the fourth as well. With a runner on third, Campos sent a ball deep to right for an RBI sacrifice flyout. Horton singled before Allen stepped up once again with a triple to right-center that plated Horton. Allen was sent home on a Gonzalez single for a 7-1 Bulldog spread after four.
Chapman had an opportunity to score in the fifth inning with a runner on third but Gonzalez secured a popout and a K for the final out before the Panthers could do any damage.
Redlands added another score in the bottom of the sixth on two hits and one Panther miscue to go ahead 8-1.
Gonzalez went three up, three down, in the top of the seventh to earn the complete-game win. She totaled seven Ks over seven innings.
Allen led the offensive charge going 5-for-7 with four runs and eight RBI. She also combined for three doubles, a triple, and a home run over the two games. Alves also hit a triple while five other Bulldogs knocked a double.
The Maroon and Gray (6-4, 6-0 SCIAC) return to action on Saturday, May 1, with a doubleheader at Cal Lutheran University. The team returns home on Sunday, May 2, for a single game against the Regals at 2:30 p.m.
