Bulldog Softball erupts for 16 runs in rout of North Central

Image Credit: Adrian Williams
Image Credit: Adrian Williams

REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (10-6, 1-1) picked up a 16-0 home non-conference win against North Central College on Thursday afternoon at The Field of Dreams as the offense collected 18 hits in the five-inning victory.  

The Bulldogs got three early runs in the first sparked by back-to-back doubles from Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) and Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA).  Avery Duran (Corona, CA) drove in Horton with a base hit. She then stole second and that allowed Campos to come in on a double steal making it 2-0. Following a bases loaded walk to Layla Mendoza (Salinas, CA), Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) made it 4-0 on a sacrifice fly to left field.

The second inning started with the first two hitters being retired before Duran and Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) both singled in front of Paige Messenlehner (Easton, CA) who would bring them home with a double to right center moving the score to 6-0.  

UR put the game away in the third when they scored seven times to extend their lead to 13-0. The big hit of the inning came when Campos tripled in Horton and Isabella Culp (Hanford, CA) before advancing home on a throwing error by the short stop to make it 9-0.  

Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) and Sarah Zuniga (La Verne, CA) each picked up RBI's in the inning to help the Bulldogs to the lopsided advantage.  

In the bottom half of the fourth Long drove in Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) and Maddy Hughes (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) to make it 15-0. Zuniga then drove in Messenlehner for Redlands' 16th and final run.

Long started the game and threw 2.0 Innings allowing two base runners on a hit and a walk.  Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) came in relief and picked up her fourth win on the season throwing the next two innings not allowing a base runner to go with four strikeouts. Ally Forbell (Salinas, CA) finished off the game with a strikeout in a perfect fifth inning.  

Duran tied her career-high with three hits as five Bulldogs posted multi-hit games. Campos, Messenlehner, and Zuniga all had two RBI's with Long leading the way with a career-high three.

The Bulldogs will have the weekend off before hosting a doubleheader with Williams on Monday, March 20 with first pitches set for 12:00pm and 2:00pm.