LA VERNE, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team came away with a doubleheader split with the University of La Verne on the road Thursday afternoon falling 9-5 in Game 1 before coming back to take Game 2 5-4.
This was the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener for the Bulldogs who move to 3-4, 1-1 SCIAC.
Game 1 (L, 9-5)
After a scoreless first inning from both sides the Leopards scored four times in the bottom of the second all coming with two outs to put the Bulldogs behind early. All four of the runs that UR starter Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) allowed were unearned as a trio of errors allowed ULV to have a big inning.
After shutting down La Verne in the third and fourth innings, Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) got Redlands within one, 4-3, on a three-run shot. Paige Messenlehner (Easton, CA) and Avery Duran (Corona, CA) both came around, Duran reaching earlier on a fielding error by the shortstop and Messenlehner collecting a base hit up the middle.
The Leopards put the game away with five runs between the fifth and sixth innings moving the score to 9-3.
In the seventh Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA) and Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) each drove in a run to reduce the deficit but the Bulldogs left a pair on the base paths to end the game.
Horton went 2-for-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored, Messenlehner was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored. On the pitching side the Bulldogs had two strikeouts, gave up three walks and committed six errors, which led to the nine runs, with only three being earned. Gandara was charged with the loss, her second on the season as she went 3.0 Innings giving up four runs (none earned) on five hits.
Game 2 (W, 5-4)
The Bulldogs overcame a four-run first inning from La Verne to get a 5-4 win thanks to the game-winning RBI-single from Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) who had a career game at the plate.
Redlands opened the scoring with an RBI-groundout from Kershner in the first.
The Bulldogs slowly started to chip away at the three-run deficit with a solo home run from Duran in the second. It was her first collegiate home run.
Horton then scored her second run of the game in the third on a fielding error at third base, which allowed Campos to come in and score.
In the fourth the Bulldogs got a rare inside-the-park home run, their second of the season already, as Bard deadlocked the game at four on her first round tripper of her collegiate career.
A pair of innings later Bard drove in Messenlehner for the game-winning run and the 5-4 victory for the Maroon and Grey.
Gandara came on in relief and threw 6.1 shutout innings with no walks and four strikeouts for her first collegiate win.
Bard had a career day with a 3-for-3 line with a run, two RBI's and two stolen bases. Bard on the day, recorded all four of her career hits, first collegiate home run, first run scored, first two RBI's, and first two stolen bases.
The Bulldogs return home for a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 4 taking on Baldwin Wallace at 11:00am and 1:00pm.