No. 25 Bulldog Women's Tennis Succumbs to No. 3 CMS

Photo credit: Nick Burchett

The No. 25 University of Redlands women's tennis team hit the road for Friday's Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) match against No. 3 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges. The Bulldogs struggled against the Athenas and suffered a 0-9 loss.

The No. 1 tandem of sophomore Sarah Ikioka (Wailuku, HI) and junior Elizabeth Johnson (Portland, OR) put up the best opposition in doubles but ultimately lost by a score of 8-5.

In singles, the Bulldogs fought hard but remained scoreless by the end of the match. While playing No. 1, Johnson won three games in her straight-set defeat, as sophomore Jackie Lacy (Palm Desert, CA) managed to take two against her No. 2 foe.

Bulldog Women’s Water Polo Falls Twice in Hard-Fought Matches

Photo credit: Mollie Craighead

The University of Redlands women's water polo team squared off against two opponents on Wednesday at the Thompson Aquatic Center.  In the opener, the Bulldogs made a late-game push in an exciting Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) tilt against the University of La Verne but fell short of the comeback, 5-6.  In the nightcap, the Maroon and Gray struggled to match the efficient offense of Virginia Military Institute and lost the non-conference game, 5-12.

In the first contest, the teams traded possessions early on, with neither finding the back of the net for the majority of the first period.  The Leopards recorded the first goal of the game with 26 seconds remaining in the frame.

La Verne continued to roll and earned a 4-0 lead by the 1:47-mark of the second quarter.

However, the Bulldogs jumped on the board about a minute later, when junior attacker Katelyn Jenkins (Bellevue, WA) found junior attacker Wendy McAleer (Simi Valley, CA), who uncorked a shot that tipped off the ULV goalkeeper's hands for the score.

After making the necessary adjustments at halftime, Redlands scored the first netter of the third frame, as junior attacker Breanna O'Dea (Rowland Heights, CA) dished out an assist on first-year defender Sarah Draves' (Fallbrook, CA) goal with 7:13 to go in the third quarter.  The Bulldogs continued to push offensively but many of their shots bounced off the post or missed the cage.

La Verne stretched its lead to 5-2 with another goal before the end of the third.

With eight minutes to play, the Bulldogs upped the ante by clawing back with huge defensive stops and back-to-back goals. Senior attacker Michelle Na (Mercer Island, WA) connected with sophomore attacker Olivia Allen (Santa Monica, CA) to initiate the Maroon and Gray's 3-0 run just 45 seconds into the final frame.  Shortly after, Jenkins sent a pass to O'Dea, who found the back of the net to make it a one-score game.

However, La Verne made it a two-score game at 6-4 with 4:20 to go.

A minute later, Jenkins provided the assist on Na's to breathe new life into the Bulldogs.  By forcing the Leopards into multiple turnovers and critical exclusions, Redlands had its chances to tie it up but struggled to push a shot past the Leopard goalkeeper, resulting in the 5-6 loss.

In the Maroon and Gray's second game of the day, VMI jetted out to an 8-0 lead through the 4:28-mark of the second stanza, forcing the home team to play catch-up.

Junior center Kolby Kahahawai (Wailuku, HI) ended the Bulldogs' scoring drought when she blasted a shot into the corner of the net off an assist from senior defender Stefanie Goldbach (Huntington Beach, CA).

After VMI scored another netter, Redlands stepped up with a 4-0 run, that included all assisted goals.  Kahahawai fired off two of these netters, while Jenkins and Na each provided a goal and an assist during this stretch.

However, the Keydets put together a 3-0 run to finish the game, resulting in the Bulldogs' 5-12 loss.

Redlands (6-17, 4-4 SCIAC) hosts its alumnae game on Saturday, March 31, at 12 noon before taking on Cal Lutheran University in a SCIAC match on Wednesday, April 4, at the Thompson Aquatic Center.  First sprint is scheduled for 4 p.m.

No. 34 Redlands Women's Tennis Battles No. 7 Bowdoin in 2-7 Loss

Photo credit: Sam Keary

The No. 34 University of Redlands women's tennis team took on seventh-ranked Bowdoin College (ME) on Tuesday afternoon in non-conference action on Verdieck Courts.  The Bulldogs left it all on the court but missed out on the upset in a 2-7 decision.

In doubles, the Polar Bears took the early lead with wins at Nos. 2 and 3, but the Bulldogs bounced back with an important result at the top slot.  Sophomore Sarah Ikioka (Wailuku, HI) and junior Elizabeth Johnson (Portland, OR) topped their counterparts in an exciting 8-5 performance.

However, Bowdoin regained the momentum with a straight-set win at No. 6 singles for the 3-1 lead.

Nonetheless, the Bulldogs refused to go away, as first-year Lexi Lehman (Scottsdale, AZ) muscled out a 6-3, 6-2 triumph at the No. 3 spot.

Trailing 2-3, the Maroon and Gray needed three of the four remaining matches to pull out the upset. Unfortunately, it was not in the cards, as the Polar Bears executed well at every position.  Johnson pushed her No. 2 counterpart to a super-breaker in the third set but ultimately lost, 6-4, 2-6, 11-9.

Redlands (6-6) welcomes No. 33 Lewis & Clark College (OR) to Verdieck Courts on Saturday, March 24, at 11 a.m.

No. 16/24 Redlands Baseball Takes Two from Williams College (MA) in Non-Conference Twin Bill

Photo credit: Karlyn Scheiwe

The No. 16/24 University of Redlands baseball team welcomed Williams College (MA) to The Yard for a non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs utilized their youthful talent on the mound and big offensive contributions by their veterans for a pair of wins by scores of 5-3 and 7-2.

Rookie pitcher Chris Fousek Jr. (San Diego, CA) climbed the bump in the scheduled, seven-inning opener. Both pitchers cruised through the first three innings before the Ephs put up one run on a triple and a double in the top of the fourth.

However, Williams' lead was short-lived, as Redlands matched the one run also on two hits. Senior third baseman Brendan Gardiner (Mission Viejo, CA) led off with a triple to right center before senior catcher Rainier Aguilar (San Bernardino, CA) roped a single down the right-field line to plate Gardiner.

Williams repeated its offensive efforts by putting up another single run in the fifth on two hits.

Nonetheless, the Maroon and Gray immediately answered back with three runs.  With two outs and two runners on, Gardiner laced a bases-clearing double down the left-field line for two RBI. After the subsequent batter reached via walk, junior first baseman Brendan Moore (Murrieta, CA) knocked a single to center field that sent Gardiner all the way home for a 4-2 Redlands lead through five frames.

Although the Ephs added one run in the top of the sixth, Fousek remained focused on the mound and fanned the final batter of the inning to hold a slight 4-3 advantage.

Senior centerfielder Kyle Kabeary (Indio, CA) single-handedly gave Redlands a larger lead with a solo shot over the right-field fence to start the bottom of the sixth.

First-year pitcher Justin Yang (Fountain Valley, CA) stepped in to close out the top of the seventh and did just that with a strikeout and two fly-outs. With this victory, Fousek now leads the team with four wins and Yang ranks first with four saves.

The teams jumped back into action after a short, 30-minute break, this time for a full nine-inning game. Senior hurler Felix Minjarez (Riverside, CA) pitched a solid first inning before sophomore Michael Rishebarger (Oceanside, CA) took over pitching duties in the second. Rishebarger made quick work of the Ephs in the second and third. Although Rishebarger allowed a base runner, Redlands' defense executed unique double plays to end both innings.

With a runner on, Gardiner had plenty of fireworks left, as he launched a two-run dinger to give Redlands a 2-0 lead heading into the fourth frame.

This reenergized Rishebarger, as he threw a 1-2-3 top of the fourth. After the initial pitching change, sophomore pitcher Austin Williams (Redlands, CA) was called on in a tough situation, as the Ephs had the bases loaded. A. Williams struck out the first batter he faced, gave up a sacrifice fly for a run, and recorded another fly-out to minimize the bases-loaded situation with just one run and maintain the slight, 2-1 lead.

Fast-forward to the bottom of the seventh, when the Bulldogs showed their offensive prowess by breaking the game wide open with five runs. Following a leadoff walk, the Bulldogs looked to senior second baseman Will Hall (Seattle, WA) to lay down the successful bunt for a base hit. After a sacrifice bunt and another walk, the Ephs' pitcher subsequently walked in a run to leave the bases still juiced. Junior shortstop Aaron Singh (Anaheim, CA) then surprised the opponents' defense with an RBI-bunt single. Kabeary kept the big inning going by blasting a long single to left field that scored two more runs. With the bases loaded yet again, Redlands successfully performed a triple-steal that allowed Singh to sneak in from third and forced an out on a pickle play. The Bulldogs now owned a hefty, 7-1 lead heading into the eighth.

First-year Cal Bridges (Fremont, CA) was moved to from right field to the pitcher's mound in the eighth. Although Williams added a run on two hits in that frame, Bridges got through the inning with minimal damage and made quick work of the ninth inning to secure the Bulldogs' sweep of Williams.

Rishebarger earned the win from the mound.

Gardiner had quite a powerful day at the plate by going 4-for-8 with a home run, a triple, and two doubles. He knocked four RBI and scored three runs.

Redlands (18-6) faces Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) competitor Caltech on Friday, March 23, for a 3 p.m. single game in Pasadena.  The Bulldogs return home on Saturday, March 24, for a doubleheader against the Beavers at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Bulldog Softball Clips the Blue Jays of Westminster College (MO) with Doubleheader Sweep

Photo credit: Mollie Craighead

The University of Redlands softball team squared off against non-conference foe Westminster College (MO) on Tuesday afternoon at the Field of Dreams.  The Bulldogs rallied back to earn a 4-3 win with a walk-off hit in the eighth inning of the opener before grabbing a 4-1 victory in the nightcap for the team's first sweep of the season.

During the opener, junior pitcher Lindsey Mifsud (Belmont, CA) entered the circle for the Maroon and Gray and immediately retired the side in order to set the tone for a great outing.  She allowed no hits over the first three innings.

However, the Blue Jays responded in the top of the fourth by pushing two runs across on four hits.

After Westminster stretched its lead to three through the top of the fifth, the Bulldogs answered back in the bottom of the frame with a two-out rally.  With junior catcher Nova Siegel (Fairfield, CA) on second, first-year centerfielder Samantha Rivas (Whittier, CA) blasted a double to the fence in right field, allowing the run to score.  Due to a costly Blue Jay error on the ensuing at-bat, Rivas touched home to make it 2-3.  But Redlands was not done yet, as sophomore left fielder Jaci Sanchez (Lakewood, CA) ripped a double to nearly the same place as Rivas' hit, which allowed senior first baseman Olivia Vierra (Burlingame, CA) to cross home plate and tie up the score.

Stellar defense and solid pitching kept both teams off the board through seven innings, which sent the game into the eighth. Following Sanchez's second double of the game, senior Shannon Skrzynski stepped up as a pinch hitter and launched a double down the left-field line for the game-winning, walk-off hit that plated Sanchez.

Mifsud went the distance for the win in eight innings with four strikeouts.

The Bulldogs carried the momentum from the win into the second game and immediately put up a run on Rivas' team-leading fifth dinger of the season.

Redlands stretched it to 4-0 through the second stanza by capitalizing on two Blue Jay errors on a series of squeeze plays.  After Sanchez walked to lead off the inning, Skrzynski bunted a single and beat out the throw, which opened the door for Sanchez to cruise to third.  After one out and runners on second and third, the Maroon and Gray went on to score twice on two errors and a sacrifice bunt.

Although Westminster pulled one back in the top of the third, the Bulldogs counted on their flawless defense to support first-year pitcher Jocelyn Hernandez (Downey, CA) in the circle.  The middle infield of senior shortstop Ursyla Baumgarten (Penngrove, CA) and junior second baseman Jordyn Smith (Highland, CA) made play after play to frustrate the Blue Jay hitters.

In the top of the seventh, Hernandez faced the tying run with two runners on but snagged the win on quality plays by her defense.  First, senior third baseman Lali Garza (Granite Bay, CA) perfectly played a bunt and threw out the lead runner at third, with Baumgarten covering her base.  Finally, the Bulldogs rolled up a double play on a lineout to third that caught the runner at first off the bag. 

Hernandez earned the complete-game win by dispersing six hits and fanning five batters.

Redlands (8-12) hosts Hamline University (MN) on Friday, March 23, at 2 p.m. for a non-conference doubleheader at the Field of Dreams.

No. 6 U of R Women's Golf Ties for Fifth at WMNU Fall Intercollegiate

Photo, recap courtesy of University of Redlands

Goodyear, AZ - The No. 6 University of Redlands women's golf team jumped into the fall portion of its season by competing in the Western New Mexico Fall Intercollegiate in Goodyear, AZ, on Monday and Tuesday.  While taking on tough competition from all over the country, the Bulldogs put together rounds of 300 and 304 to finish in a tie for fifth place out of 20 teams.

Junior Caroline Ordian (Palm Desert, CA) paced the Maroon and Gray with her sixth-place showing of 146 (74-72) at the Golf Club of Estrella.  She recorded 24 pars and five birdies over the two-day event.

Freshman Jasmine Hsu (Fremont, CA) impressed in her Bulldog debut by tying for 13th with a 36-hole tally of 149 (74-75).  She hit minus two on the par fives while also knocking in six birdies throughout the tournament.

Senior Kari Gordon (Culver City, CA) stepped up with a total score of 151 (72-79) to enter the clubhouse in a tie for 19th place.  She, along with Ordian and Hsu, shot perfectly even on the par-three holes.

Seniors Raquel Gordon (Culver City, CA) and Jenna Durette (Oceanside, CA) also produced quality results with their respective scores of 158 (80-78) and 165 (85-80).  In addition, freshman Paige Phillips (Danville, CA) gained experience at her first college tournament with rounds of 86 and 90.

Redlands looks forward to traveling to Portland, OR, for the Culturame Classic at the Reserve Vineyard Golf Club.

Redlands' Baseball Caps Off Regular-Season Action with 6-7 Loss to CMS

The University of Redlands baseball team traveled to Claremont, CA to take on the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges Stags on Tuesday afternoon in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action for their third Final Four contest. After falling behind by six runs after the first three frames, the Bulldogs charged back to within one after junior second baseman Christopher Scalisi (Woodland Hills, CA) launched a grand slam. However, the Bulldogs followed by stranding nine runners on base en route to a 6-7 defeat.

The Bulldogs etched the first run on the scoreboard with senior right-fielder Christian Gurrola