University of Redlands rallies to beat Linfield; will play 8th-seeded Rowan in NCAA championship
University of Redlands erupted for five runs in its final at bat Thursday to rally and beat No. 4 Linfield University of McMinnville, Ore., 9-7, on the first day of the NCAA Division III College World Series in Salem, Va.
The Bulldogs, seeded No. 5, avenged two losses to the Linfield Wildcats — 6-0 and 6-4 in a doubleheader in February at Redlands’ “Field of Dreams.” Linfield, 42-7, will face No. 1 seed Virginia Wesleyan Friday in a loser’s bracket game. Redlands will face Rowan, the No. 8 seed, which upset Virginia Wesleyan 3-2.
Linfield took a 6-4 lead into the seventh inning and Redlands finally had success against Linfield starting pitcher Tyler McNeley, who left with the bases loaded in favor of freshman relief pitcher Destiny Cornwell.
Bulldogs’ pinch hitter Alyssa Stofila (Santiago High, Corona) led off with a bloop single to center. Brooklyn Bard singled to move pinch-runner Natalie Lopez to second. Leila Gomez (Aquinas High/San Bernardino) laid down a bunt and reached safely to load the bases. Katelyn Gandara then singled to left to score Lopez to make it 6-5 Linfield.
Cornwell came on in relief of McNeley and Natalie Lowthers singled to center to drive in Bard to tie the score at 6-6. Redlands then took its first lead of the game when Jenay Scott reached base on a fielder’s choice to score Gomez to make it 7-6 Redlands.
Avery Duran (Santiago High/Corona) then doubled off the left field fence to drive in Lowthers and Scott to make it 9-6. McNeley was charged with eight of Redlands’ nine runs.
Linfield got two more outs without another Redlands score to end the top of the seventh.
In their last at bat, the Wildcats got a run back on Cydney Hess’ two-out home run to right field but Redlands freshman pitcher Caitlynn Griffiths induced a fly ball to center that Scott caught for the final out and the Bulldogs celebrated the victory.
Freshman pitcher Caitlynn Griffiths (Rancho Christian High/Temecula) pitched a complete game for Redlands, giving up all seven runs on 11 hits while striking out three and walking two as Redlands improved its record to 44-6. Linfield is now 42-7.
Gomez had a great game at the plate with four hits in five at bats, two runs scored and an RBI. Gandara was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Lowthers had a hit and an RBI. Povenzano was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Mya Holshoe (Redlands High School) was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Holshoe also caught a pop fly at shortstop in the bottom of the sixth to retire the side after Linfield’s one score that gave them a 6-4 lead.
