REDLANDS, Calif.—The University of Redlands used big scoring runs to end both games to earn a non-conference sweep of Lewis & Clark College softball on Saturday afternoon at the Field of Dreams. 

Junior pitcher Alyssa Abe had a career-game at the plate in game two, as she went off for three hits, four RBI and a pair of extra-base hits in the loss. 

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KEY MOMENTS GAME ONE: REDLANDS 10-2 (5 INNINGS) 

Lewis & Clark scored the first two runs of the game, but the Bulldogs would strike for 10 unanswered runs in a five-inning game one victory.

Kalea Kaui had the big hit for the Pioneers in game one with a single and two RBI. Alyssa Hoeke went 1-1 with two walks and Mari Alvarez had a hit and a run scored in three trips to the plate. 

In the circle, Cassidy Crusberg came on in relief and allowed just two earned runs in 2.2 innings. 

Bulldogs pitcher Danielle Stallings limited the Pioneers to just five hits, two walks and two runs in five innings. 

Things started positively for the Pioneers. Hoeke opened the game with a walk and Alvarez followed with a single. After a fielder's choice erased Hoeke at third, Lily Moffitt delivered a two-out single to load the bases. Kaui made the hosts pay with a single to the right side that scored Alvarez and Riley Anderson.  

It would be all Redlands from there. The hosts struck for three runs in the bottom of the first to grab a 3-2 edge. 

They extended their lead to three in the second and scored four runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth. 

Lewis & Clark put a base runner on in three of the final four innings but couldn't scratch across another run.  

KEY MOMENTS GAME TWO: REDLANDS 8-7

The second game was a heartbreaking loss for the Pioneers. Lewis & Clark raced out to a 7-0 lead and looked like they would cruise to victory, only for the Bulldogs to score one run in the fourth and seven runs in their final two at-bats to pick up a walk-off win. 

Abe was phenomenal at the plate. She recorded a career-high three hits (3-3), four RBI and also scored twice. The junior hit her fourth career double and fourth career home run in the loss. 

Moffitt finished 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI and Alvarez went 2-2 with a run scored and an RBI. 

Abe went the first 5.2 innings in the circle and allowed seven hits and four earned runs.  

With the score tied 0-0 after one, Abe crushed a two-run homer to left field to make it 2-0 in the second. 

Alvarez started a five-run rally in the third inning with a solo home run. Anderson followed with a single and Brackin walked. With two on and two outs, Moffitt singled through the left side to score Anderson. Abe followed with a two-run double to right-center to make it 6-0 and Kaui scored Abe with a double of her own. 

Redlands opened their scoring run with a solo home run in the fourth. They scored four two-out runs in the sixth, with the big hit coming on a three-run home run from Paige Messenlehner. 

In the seventh inning, each of the first two batters reached and Tysene Gordon made the Pioneers pay with a two-run, game-tying double. After a fielder's choice, Messenlehner delivered a walk-off single.  

DEEPER LOOK 

• After starting the season hitting .227, Abe is now hitting .343. She has gone 7-13 over the past week with a a double and two home runs. 
• Kaui has also gone on a tear at the plate. The junior has hit safely in 10 of her last 12 games and has registered all 10 of her RBI during that span. 
• This was the first meeting between the programs since at least the 2007 season. The two teams were scheduled to meet during the 2020 season but the games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• The Pioneers wrap up their non-conference schedule with a 5-5 record. 

WHO'S NEXT 

The Pioneers will host #8 Linfield University on Tuesday in the final two games of their Northwest Conference series.