REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team (17-11, 7-5 SCIAC) won their second-straight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game as they beat the University of La Verne (ULV), 4-1, in a makeup game from March Tuesday afternoon at the Field of Dreams.
The two sides went scoreless into the fourth still looking for the game's first run. La Verne threatened in their at-bats with Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA) working around a two-out single in the top half of the inning. Then in UR's half Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) was able to reach on an error to open the inning before advancing to third on a pair of stolen bases.
Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) then stepped in and came through with a single into center on an 0-2 pitch and she was followed by Avery Duran (Corona, CA)who reached on a fielder's choice as Kershner was able to advance to second on a third Leopard error of the inning.
With a pair of runners on, Paige Messenlehner (Easton, CA) came up clutch with a doubl into right center scoring Kershner to move the score to 2-0. Isabella Culp (Hanford, CA) continued her hot hitting as she singled home both Duran and Messenlehner for a 4-0 advantage.
In the sixth the Leopards had their best opportunity to cut into the deficit as they had the bases loaded and only one out. Gandara, though, was able to fight through it picking up a strikeout and then allowing only one unearned run.
Looking for her seventh complete game of the season, Gandara stranded a one-out single at second base int he top half of the seventh as the Bulldogs earned the 4-1 victory.
The Bulldogs managed four runs on only five hits and one walk as three of their runs were unearned in the fourth. Kershner led the way with two hits and Culp had two of the four RBI's. In the circle Gandara won her eighth game of the season as she scattered eight hits with two strikeouts and no walks allowed.
Redlands returns to their normal conference schedule this weekend with a long trip out to California Lutheran University this Friday, April 14 at 3:00pm as they begin a three-game series with the Regals.