CLAREMONT, Calif. – The University of Redlands Softball team opened up the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Tournament with a 10-4 win over No. 2 Chapman University at tournament host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Friday afternoon.
The Bulldogs were gifted an early lead in the first when Natalie Horton (Palmdale, CA) scored after a fielding error at shortstop. The Panthers, though, tied the game at one in their opening at-bats coming on a fielder's choice that was unearned after the leadoff batter reached on an error.
Following a scoreless second inning for both starters, Alexis Campos (Lake Forest, CA) and Avery Duran (Corona, CA) each had RBI-doubles to extend the lead to two, 3-1. Starter Katlyn Gandara (Whittier, CA), who walked to lead off the inning and Campos scored on the two hits.
Kassidy Long (Hemet, CA) got the start as the designated player and made it 4-1 in the fifth on a single into right field that scored Campos, the right fielder, though, committed an error, which allowed Kalyn Kershner (Ewa Beach, HI) and Brooklyn Bard (Garden Grove, CA) to come in and score extending the advantage to five, 6-1.
Another defensive error, this time on the Bulldog defense in the bottom half, helped extend the inning for Chapman and with two outs they earned a two-run single down the left field line to make it a three-run game.
The scoring continued in the sixth when each side got extra-base hits with runners on. Kershner in the top half doubled to left center bringing around Campos. The Panthers got a two-out triple down the right field line as Redlands took a 7-4 lead into the final inning.
The offense took the pressure off Gandara in the seventh with another three runs, the first coming from Paige Messenlehner (Easton, CA) who drove in Bard for the eighth run on a single through the five-six hole. Gandara then helped herself with an RBI-groundout. The 10th and final run came on an infield single to third base from Horton as Messenlehner scored an unearned run, the eighth total unearned run for the two pitching staffs combined.
Redlands outhit the Panthers 14-6 with Long registering a career-high four hits as she was 4-for-4 with an RBI. Campos (3-for-5), Kershner (2-for-4), and Messenlehner (2-for-4) also posted multi-hit games. Gandara had a walk, RBI, and run scored with the bat and threw seven innings with only one earned run allowed as the SCIAC Pitcher of the Year picked up her 14th win on the season.
With the win Redlands will now play in the winners bracket tomorrow, Saturday, May 13 against No. 4 Pomona-Pitzer who beat No. 1 Claremont-M-S 3-1 in 11-innings earlier in the day. The game is currently scheduled for 12:30 p.m. but check the schedule for any potential changes.
