No. 3 University of Redlands came up just short in the opening game of a highly anticipated matchup at No. 2 Texas Lutheran University, 5-3, in the Super Regionals of the 2026 NCAA Division III Softball Championship.

Box Score

Redlands out-hit TLU 13-7 but could not string them together to keep up on the scoreboard despite the strong showing on the road.

The hosts went ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly following an error that allowed leadoff runner and national player of the year candidate Caelee Clark to reach base. Redlands answered immediately in the top of the second inning but was limited to just one run after three consecutive singles. TLU put up two more runs in the third and held the two-run margin thanks to a second double play in three innings that ended the Redlands frame prematurely.

Another TLU run scored in the third and the tension never abated as neither pitcher could record a single clean inning. Redlands manufactured a run in the fith to pull back within two but a series of walks allowed TLU to score again immediately, though reliever Caitlynn Griffith escaped without allowing a hit.

Back-to-back doubles by Adyson Kim and Avery Provenzano plated another Bulldogs run but three more runners were left on base after a fielder's choice cut down the runner at home and a foul-out ended the inning. Griffith coaxed a third strikeout in 1.2 innings pitched to strand Clark and Redlands managed to get the go-ahead run to the plate with two on base but could not find the hit needed to extend the game.
 

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