TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Redlands Softball team (8-5, 1-1) opened their two-day four-game tournament at the TIG Tucson Invitational against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWLA) who they beat 8-0 behind seven shutout innings from Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) and then lost their second game of day one 14-3 to Central College (Iowa).
Game 1 (Wisconsin-La Crosse; W 8-0)
The Bulldogs got on the board early as Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) scored on a throwing error by the left fielder following a single into left by Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA). Later in the inning Avery Duran (Corona, CA) grounded out and brought home Campos for an early 2-0 advantage.
After Gandara and the Bulldogs held the Eagles scoreless through four innings, the offense doubled their lead to 4-0 following a two-run home run by Horton. Madison Lourenco (Fontana, CA) scored after doubling to right field as a pinch hitter to lead off the fifth.
The Bulldogs added their fifth run in the sixth on an error at third base, and they scored their final two runs in the seventh thanks to RBIs from Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, CA), who singled home Horton, and Paige Messenlehner (Easton, CA) who brought Campos in for the eighth and final run as Gandara finished off her third scoreless appearance of her first-year.
The top two hitters for the Maroon and Grey were Horton and Campos who combined to go 5-for-7 with five runs scored and two RBI's. Gandara started and went the full seven innings with seven strikeouts.
Game 2 (Central; L, 14-3)
In the second game on the day the Bulldogs got off to a slow start in all facets as the Dutch scored the first three runs, two of which came without a hit. The offense, though, did get them back in it with a pair of solo home runs in the third as both Campos and Kershner homered to left to make it a 3-2 deficit.
The Dutch would put the game away with six runs across the fourth and fifth innings as they extended their lead to seven, 9-2. The final run of the game for Redlands came on a third solo shot, this time courtesy of Duran who also went deep to left field.
Kershner finished going 2-for-4 and Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) went 2-for-3. The Bulldogs pitching staff allowed 14 runs but only eight were earned as the defense committed four errors.
The Bulldogs finish their stay in Arizona on Sunday with games against Rochester Institute of Technology at 11:00 a.m. and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at 3:30 p.m.