Bulldog Softball Slips to Chapman in Heartbreakers at Home

Photo credit: Sam Keary

The University of Redlands softball team hosted the Panthers of Chapman University in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) doubleheader at the Field of Dreams on Friday afternoon.  Although the Bulldogs gained leads in each game, they could not hang on for either win and fell by scores of 6-8 and 4-5.

In the opener, Redlands scored one in the bottom of the first when junior left-fielder Jaci Sanchez (Lakewood, CA), launched a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.

However, the Panthers tacked on four runs in the top of the second in a tough defensive display by the Maroon and Gray.

After back-to-back doubles to score a run in the fifth, Redlands pushed three across in the sixth off of first-year outfielder Hayley DiMase's (Eastvale, CA) bases-clearing double.  In addition, Sanchez reached on an error with the bases loaded to score the Bulldogs' fourth run of the inning.

Unfortunately for the home team, Chapman mustered four runs on one hit and three errors to snag an 8-6 win in the seventh.

DiMase went 1-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, while senior catcher Nova Siegel (Fairfield, CA) scored three times and registered a 2-for-3 effort at the plate.

Following the nearly three-hour opener, time was of the essence in the second game, with hopes of finishing at least five frames to make it official under NCAA rules.

Redlands came out firing in the first inning by tacking on four runs for the early lead.  With two outs and a runner on first, first-year third baseman Jessica Torosian (Thousand Oaks, CA) blasted a double to the right-center fence for one RBI.  Sanchez followed that with a long single to right field, which allowed Torosian to touch home.  Sophomore centerfielder Sam Rivas (Whittier, CA) capped off the lucrative inning with her first home run of the season to make it 4-0.

However, Chapman immediately responded with a crooked number in the top of the second to even the tally.

The Panthers scored one more in the top of the fourth to take a 5-4 lead.

Redlands worked to answer in the bottom of the frame and managed to move senior shortstop Jordyn Smith (Highland, CA) to third base but to no avail.

The Bulldogs also loaded the bases in the fifth with no outs, with a free pass and two singles.  But Chapman executed on defense to keep Redlands off the board.

Torosian went 3-for-3 with one RBI and one run in game two.

Redlands (4-6, 2-4 SCIAC) faces Hiram College (OH) on Wednesday, March 6, in a non-conference doubleheader at the Field of Dreams.  First pitch is set for 12 noon.