REDLANDS, Calif. — Two runs in the first inning were not enough as Cal Lutheran softball fell to the Redlands Bulldogs 5-2 in game one of the SCIAC Tournament.
Now, with a loss in the double-elimination tournament, the Regals (14-18) must fight to keep their season alive in their first SCIAC Tournament appearance since 2015.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Regals offense was productive right out of the gates with two runs in the first inning but had no answer for Redlands the rest of the way. After Reyna Perez walked and Olivia Vargas singled, Jessica Waters lined one to center field off the glove of the diving Bulldogs' (30-11) center fielder to bring in a run and put runners on second and third. Danielle Diaz made it back-to-back-to-back hits with an RBI single after that put the Regals up 2-0.
Ashlyn Flinchum (L) went 6.0 innings to keep the Regals within striking distance the whole way, giving up five runs on 10 hits in a big effort in the circle.
The Bulldogs struck in the second, fourth, and fifth innings en route to five answered runs, as pitching and defense held the Regals offense in check down the stretch. The Regals only got runners into scoring position twice after the first inning, as their best chance to chip away came in the sixth after two singles from Diaz and Brooke DeSmet brought the tying run to the plate.
THE NUMBERS
- Flinchum (11-6): 6.0 IP, 10 H, 5 ER, 5 BB, 3 K
- Diaz: 2-3, RBI
- Waters 2-3, RBI
- Perez: 1-3, R
- Vargas: 1-3, R
UP NEXT
The Regals look to avoid elimination on the road against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in game two of the SCIAC Tournament tomorrow, May 11th at 11 am.
