REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands (16-11, 6-5 SCIAC) Softball team avoided a series sweep to Chapman University Saturday by splitting a twin-bill on their annual Strike Out Cancer event. The Bulldogs fell in Game 1 4-2, but came back to walk it off in the second game 3-2 handing the Panthers their first conference loss on the season.
Game 1 (L, 4-2)
All six runs scored by the two sides came across the first two innings. The Bulldogs evened the game at one in the bottom of the first thanks to an RBI-single into center from Annabelle Gutierrez (Gilroy, CA) as Avery Duran (Corona, CA) came around to score.
After the Panthers took a 4-1 lead in the top half of the second, Layla Mendoza (Salinas, CA) got one back as she hit a leadoff solo shot off the base of the foul pole in left field for her third home run of the year. For the Bulldogs, though, that would be their final run of the game as both teams remained scoreless across the final five innings.
Gutierrez and Isabella Culp (Hanford, CA) each went 2-for-3 as the Bulldogs' offense collected seven hits and three walks, while leaving seven runners stranded.
Ally Forbell (Salinas, CA) came on in relief of Brianna Garcia (Riverside, CA) and threw six innings giving up just one run and no walks.
Game 2 (W, 3-2)
The Bulldogs were down 2-0 in Game 2 after one inning and did not score until the fifth when Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) drove in Adyson Kim (Millbrae, CA) to make it a one-run game.
Redlands made their comeback attempt in their final at-bats. Starting the inning off was Culp who drew a walk, Sarah Zuniga (La Verne, CA) came on as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Kim.
The next two batters, Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) and Paige Messenlehner (Easton, CA) put the finishing touches on the walk-off. Bard drove in Zuniga with a triple into center and Messenlehner would bring in the game-winner with a sacrifice fly to center.
Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) threw seven innings strong, allowing two runs, neither earned, while walking only one batter and stranding seven Panthers on the bases. She improves to 7-6.
The Bulldogs will play a make up conference game with the University of La Verne this Tuesday, April 11 beginning at 3:00 p.m.