The University of Redlands softball team faced what appeared to
be two separate teams on Tuesday at the Softball “Field of
Dreams,” defeating Pacific Lutheran University (WA), 9-0, in
game one of a non-conference doubleheader before dropping a 0-3
decision against the Lutes in the second contest.
Junior pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) dominated Pacific Lutheran
in the first game as she improved to 10-2 on the season with just
one surrendered hit in four shutout innings on the mound.
Redlands scored early and often in the first game as junior catcher
Nicky Neumann (Fremont, CA) set the tone in the first inning with a
lead-off single through the left side, and junior outfielder Kayla
Peterson (San Jose, CA) shifted Neumann to second on a bunt to
third. In the ensuing at bat, sophomore first baseman/outfielder
Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA) ripped a single to right center and
subsequently drove in Neumann. Freshman catcher/third baseman
Lindsay Henry (Lake Elsinore, CA) grounded out to the first baseman
with one out but plated Peterson in the process, accounting for
both of Redlands’ runs in the inning.
The Bulldogs would never relinquish that lead as they would go on
to score two runs in the second and five more in the fourth, ending
the game in the fifth due to the eight-run rule.
A bevy of Redlands hitters had excellent outings. Peterson went a
perfect 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBI while Casillas notched
the team high in RBI with three on 2-of-3 hitting. Senior second
baseman/shortstop Dory Baga (Aiea, HI) and junior
pitcher/designated player Amanda Doeppel (Monrovia, CA) also had
multi-hit performances.
Pacific Lutheran shut down the Bulldog offense in the second game
as the Maroon and Gray pieced together just three hits and could
not bring home any of the five runners that reached base throughout
the contest.
Doeppel was tagged with the loss despite surrendering a mere four
hits and one earned run.
Redlands (11-6, 8-2 SCIAC) faces No. 22 Linfield College (OR) at
the Softball “Field of Dreams” tomorrow at 2 p.m.