REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team needed a walk-off Friday afternoon to beat the visiting Tigers of Occidental College 5-4 at the Field of Dreams.
Prior to the game Head Coach Jose Ortega recognized his five seniors who were taking part in their final regular season home game. They included Danielle Stallings (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), Kayla Rivas (Whittier, CA), Tyesen Gordon (Lathrop, CA), Aya Smith (Redlands, CA), and Brooks McVicker (Fort Collins, CO).
With the win the Bulldogs improve to 21-11, 14-5 SCIAC and are now one win away from clinching the 2022 SCIAC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SCIAC Tournament for the second straight year.
They have been red-hot winning eight in a row, dating back to April 2 and have also won nine of their last ten. They now sit two games ahead of Chapman University (12-7), University of La Verne (12-7), and Claremont-M-S (12-7).
Redlands got to work quickly in their opening at-bats with Paige Messenlehner (Fresno, CA) leading off the frame with a double to right center before advancing to third due to a fielding miscue in the outfield. She then came in on a sacrifice fly from Gordon. The very next inning Occidental got some luck on their side with a dropped fly ball in left, which allowed a runner from first to come all the way around to score, tying the game up.
In the third the Maroon and Grey tacked on two runs to go back on top. With two outs and two runners on Gordon came up clutch with a double to right center that plated Collette Allen (Sierra Madre, CA) and Messenlehner. Then in the sixth UR tacked on insurance using another two out rally this time with Smith hitting a shot over the left fielder's head scoring Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI).
This moved the score to 4-1, but it wouldn't hold as Oxy would chase Stallings out of the game in the top half of the seventh scoring three runs on two hits. A pair of walks and two singles plated two runs for the Tigers and they would continue to threaten loading the bases with a hit batter. Redlands looked like they would get out of the jam with a foul out to the first baseman and a force out at third, but a passed ball that got away from Smith allowed the game-tying run to come in.
The momentum swing wouldn't last long though for Oxy, because Redlands would come out in their final at-bats creating fireworks. Allen would start the inning off with a one-hopper through the left side and would then come all the way around thanks to a triple from Gordon down the right field line.
Kershner came in relief in the 7th Inning facing five batters giving up just one run, which was unearned. She picked up the win and now improves to 7-6.
Gordon had a day finishing 2-for-3 with a double, triple and four RBI's. Allen added a 2-for-3 effort scoring twice. Messenlehner was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and Smith, who was in the starting spot behind the plate came up clutch reaching base safely all three times, going 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
Redlands wraps up the three game series with the Tigers tomorrow, Saturday, April 30 on the road with game times set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.
