No. 2 University of Redlands rallied to defeat regional nemesis No. 5 Linfield University, 9-7, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women’s College World Series in Salem, Va. to advance into the winner’s bracket for the first time in program history.
Box Score
The Bulldogs stole the win from the Wildcats with a five-run rally in the top of the seventh inning after trailing since a 2-0 deficit in the first inning. The matchup was tense throughout the game as both teams knew if they did not win, they would be facing previously unbeaten No. 1 Virginia Wesleyan University in the loser’s bracket after a shock upset to No. 16 Rowan University in the tournament opener.
SCIAC Newcomer of the Year
Caitlynn Griffith earned just a second start of the season and went the distance for Redlands against the two-time national champions and World Series mainstay. Linfield scored two runs in each of the first two innings while Redlands equalized in the top of the second and pulled one back in the fourth on an incredible 13-pitch bases-loaded walk drawn by
Maya Holshoe. A solo shot plated an insurance tally for the Wildcats in the fifth but an error gave one back to Redlands in the top of the sixth, though Linfield scored once more in the bottom of the frame to carry a two-run margin into the finale stanza.
Facing their final three outs, the Bulldogs wasted no time in flipping the pressure onto Linfield with three consecutive bunts to lead off the inning. SCIAC Athlete of the Year and newly minted Second Team All-America slugger
Katlyn Gandara brought home the first run to halve the deficit and force a pitching change, after which
Natalie Lowthers tied the game with an RBI single.
Leila Gomez scored next on a groundout and
Avery Duran wrapped up the scoring with a two-out pinch-hit double off the left field wall to stake Griffith to a three-run lead. Linfield got one back on another solo shot after back-to-back flyouts to Gomez in right field and Griffith found the final out on a short flyout to centerfield.
Gomez ended the game 4-for-5 with two runs and one RBI while Gandara was 3-for-4 with a walk as every Bulldog starter reached base.
Redlands will face Rowan at 8 a.m. Pacific Time/11 a.m. local in Virginia tomorrow, Friday, May 29.
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