How the University of Redlands Softball Team Shocked Everyone with Their 20th Straight Win – You Won't Believe What Happened Next!

REDLANDS — History was on the line for the University of Redlands softball team, and head coach Jose Ortega showed immense faith in his players by handing the ball to freshman pitcher Caitlynn Griffith. Facing a tight situation against Chapman University with two runners on base and no outs in the fifth inning, Griffith entered the game and managed to escape the jam unscathed. The Bulldogs ultimately secured a 5-1 victory in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) game on Thursday afternoon, marking a significant milestone as they achieved their 20th consecutive win—a new program record, surpassing the previous mark of 19 set in 2012.

“It starts with belief, knowing we are a top program in the nation,” Ortega stated, noting their current ranking as No. 7 in the latest NFCA Division III coaches poll. “We had a few early losses but didn’t let those faze us. We knew, as a staff, that we could go on a run like this. We just have to play our type of softball.”

Redlands (30-4 overall, 15-1 in SCIAC) took control with a 4-1 lead after four innings, but Chapman (26-9, 11-5) threatened in the fifth. After a double from Emily Tome and a single by Mia Reyes, Ortega made a critical decision to switch pitchers. Griffith responded admirably, recording a pop-up and a strikeout for the first two outs of the inning. The threat ended when catcher Natalie Lowthers threw out Reyes attempting to steal second. Impressively, Griffith has not allowed an earned run in her last 26.1 innings pitched in SCIAC play.

“She makes that a pretty easy decision,” Ortega said regarding his choice to bring in Griffith. “We told her to get going in the fourth inning and stay ready.” Griffith retired the first seven batters she faced and struck out three of the nine hitters during her outing, earning her third save of the season and lowering her earned run average (ERA) to 0.81.

“I just went out there trying to have fun,” Griffith expressed. “I wasn’t nervous. My team makes it easy to go out and pitch.”

While Redlands had a chance to score in the first inning, Leila Gomez was thrown out at home plate for the second out of the frame. Chapman took the lead in the second inning, as Sam Mather doubled off the center-field fence and later scored on an error with two outs.

The Bulldogs quickly retaliated in the bottom of the second with a two-out rally. Avery Provenzano singled to center and advanced to third on an error before Natalie Lopez brought her home with a single to left field.

In the third inning, Redlands executed aggressive baserunning to take the lead. Jenay Scott reached on a fielder’s choice but drew a throw, allowing Kayla Jackson to make a bluff toward home. As Chapman catcher Bella Brischle attempted to throw out Jackson, the throw went awry, allowing both Jackson and Scott to score. Provenzano capped the inning with an RBI double.

“We’re not going to sit around waiting for home runs,” Ortega emphasized, explaining their approach to applying pressure on the defense. “We want to force action on the base paths.”

Chapman managed to get a runner on base with two outs in the seventh, but Griffith struck out Reyes for the final out, igniting celebrations among the Bulldogs. “We try not to think too much about it,” said pitcher Katlyn Gandara, reflecting on their impressive winning streak. “We just focus on what’s in front of us, so there really isn’t any pressure.” Gandara, an NFCA All-American last season, allowed just one unearned run on six hits over four-plus innings, improving her record to 16-1.

In addition to Griffith’s stellar performance, Gomez went 3 for 4 with two stolen bases, while Gandara, Provenzano, and Lopez contributed two hits each for Redlands. The Bulldogs will conclude their series with a doubleheader against Chapman on Saturday, with games starting at noon and 2 p.m. A victory in at least one of these games will clinch the regular-season championship for Redlands, securing them home-field advantage for the SCIAC Tournament.