CLAREMONT, Calif. – After two weeks off of rest and three non-conference series canceled the University of Redlands Softball team came out strong Friday afternoon taking game one of a three game series with Claremont-M-S.
The Maroon and Grey have been itching to play and that extra rest proved important as they would pick up a big win within Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play. They get back on track improving to 9-6, 5-2 SCIAC.
After giving up a run in the bottom half of the first to the Athenas the Bulldogs came back with a four spot in the 2nd and 3rd Innings to take a lead they wouldn't give back.
Paige Messenlehner (Gilroy, CA), who was a game time decision, was put into a starting spot and helped in a big way leading off the first big inning with a single to right center and moving up to second after a Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) single to left center. After both runners advanced on a ball on the infield UR would rally with two outs. Kayla Rivas (Whittier, CA) walked to load the bases, Collette Allen (Sierra Madre, CA) would triple to right center clearing the bases and would eventually come in on an Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA) base hit to center.
The very next inning the Bulldogs would tack on another four runs on four hits, while using a CMS error that opened the game up. A pair of singles from Sierra Daley (Torrance, CA) and Danielle Stallings (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), followed by a Messenlehner walk loaded the bases. After that Kershner would double to right center plating two and Isabella Culp (Hanford, CA) would beat out a single on the infield bringing in another. After a throwing error and a strikeout UR would add another with Allen grounding back to the pitcher, which allowed Kershner to come in moving the score to 8-1.
Claremont-M-S was able to get two of the runs back in the 5th to get within five, but that's as close as they would get as Redlands would hold on for the victory.
Stallings threw a complete game in the circle going 7.0 Innings giving up three runs (one earned) on six hits with a pair of strikeouts. She improves to 7-2.
Kershner finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two runs batted in. Allen was 2-for-4 scoring once and driving in four, Stallings chipped in with a 2-for-4 effort and Campos batting in the two spot added a 2-for-4 day with an RBI.
Redlands returns to the diamond, Saturday, March 19 at "The Field of Dreams" to wrap up the series with Claremont-M-S with first pitches slated for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.