No. 2 University of Redlands swept a doubleheader at No. 3 Texas Lutheran University, 3-1 and 5-4, in the toughest Super Regional matchup in the history of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship.
Game 1 Box Score: 3-1
With the foes flipping home/away designation for the first game, the hosts went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning on an RBI single following a one-out triple. Redlands quickly equalized as
Leila Gomez singled, stole second base, advanced to third on another single and scored on a fielder’s choice groundout. Gomez would reach third base again in the third inning but was stranded, after which TLU put runners on second and third with two outs.
Caitlynn Griffith stepped into the circle at that point and promptly coaxed an infield fly to cut out the danger.
A quick fifth inning gave way to a decisive sixth as
Avery Duran led off with a pinch-hit single, then was lifted for
Kayla Jackson who promptly stole second and advanced to third on a
Brooklyn Bard single and stolen base. Gomez continued a brilliant day with a sacrifice fly to give Redlands its first lead of the series and
Katlyn Gandara followed with another to make it a two-run game. The Bulldogs nearly added an insurance tally or two in the next frame with a sacrifice bunt moving runners into scoring position with one out but the visitors could not get the ball out of the infield again to plate either. No insurance was necessary, though, as Griffith got a strikeout and two flyouts to centerfield to hand TLU just its fifth loss on the year. The rookie southpaw also earned the win after allowing just one hit over 3.1 innings pitched while
Paige Ellinger surrendered just the lone run over 3.2 innings in the start.
Game 2 Box Score: 5-4
The rubber game nightcap saw TLU take another 1-0 lead in the first inning and Redlands nearly responded but had a runner caught between bags on a potential sacrifice fly. The Bulldogs remained locked in, however, and an
Avery Provenzano leadoff double followed by two bunt singles loaded the bases for Gandara to drop a blooper into right field to tie the game.
Natalie Lowthers then hit a long foul ball down the right field line before smashing a no-doubt grand slam to left field for the 5-1 lead.
Every one of those runs proved vital as TLU got one back in the bottom of the third, another in the sixth on a double-steal and put two runners in scoring position before an out was recorded with both teams’ seasons on the line in the seventh. Griffiths again came through in the clutch as the first run scored unearned on a foul-out, followed by two infield flies all three brought in by Provenzano to secure the victory. Gandara earned the win having surrendered just two earned runs over 5.2 innings pitched while Griffith ended the day with another 1.1 innings without an earned run charged.
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