Seventh-Inning Comeback Gives Redlands Softball Series-Opening Win

REDLANDS, Calif. - The Redlands softball team was down to its final out, but picked up back-to-back singles to come from behind and take a 6-5 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the first of a three-game series on Friday.

The win enabled Redlands to tighten things up at the top of the SCIAC standings, as it improves to 23-8 overall and 9-3 in league play, while CMS slips to 17-8 overall and 8-2 in conference. 

The Athenas trailed 3-0 after four innings, but came back with three runs in the top of the fifth to tie it. Emma Suh singled and Kaili Aqui followed with a bunt single to put two runners on and nobody out. Rachel Sapirstein singled to load the bases, and Madison Gonzalez drove in the first run with a second coming home on an error. Destiny Garcia then had an RBI single to level the game at 3-3. 

Redlands went back ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth, but CMS scored twice in the sixth to take the lead. Suh again had a leadoff single, and Aqui sacrificed her over, before Giselle Lai singled up the middle to tie it. Sapirstein singled again to move her to third, and Gonzalez put down a squeeze bunt to put the Athenas ahead 5-4. 

CMS missed an opportunity to extend its lead by leaving 11 runners on base over the final four innings (13 for the game) and Redlands was able to take advantage in the bottom of the seventh. After putting two on with nobody out, the two Bulldogs were still on first and second with two outs, when Paige Messenlehner came through with an RBI single to tie it. Pinch-hitter Annissa Dorres then broke the tie with an RBI single to give the Bulldogs the walkoff win. 

Suh finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, Sapirstein was 3-for-5, and Garcia and Sarah Loper were each 2-for-4. 

The two teams will complete their three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader at Athena Field, which is scheduled for 11 a.m.