REDLANDS, Ca. – The No. 4 Pomona-Pitzer softball team shutout the No. 1 Redlands Bulldogs 10-0 in the opening round of the 2022 SCIAC Postseason Tournament. Erika Rivera pitched the full game shutout for the Sagehens, allowing just four hits while recording seven strikeouts. Hannah Brajkovich led the team at the plate with three hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer in the seventh inning while the team recorded a total of 13 hits and 9 RBIs on the day. The Sagehens will be back in action tomorrow when they take on Chapman at 1:30 p.m.

How It Happened

It was a quiet first three innings for the Sagehens with Taylor Lehner recording the team's first hit in the second inning before a pop up, fly out, and ground out ended the inning. Redlands had a dangerous opportunity in the bottom of the third inning as they walked before recording a single to left and a walk later in the inning, loading the bases with two outs. Erika Rivera worked out of the bases loaded situation with a strikeout to get the Sagehens out of the inning. 

In the fourth inning, Lauren Ziment started things off with a walk before Devin Waddell reached on a Redlands error. Taylor Lehner moved the runners over with a bunt for a single, loading the bases with no outs. Brajkovich brought Ziment home with an RBI single to right field before Katy Hurley singled through the right side to bring in Waddell and Lehner and give the Sagehens a 3-0 lead. Julia Carreon kept things going with an RBI single down the right field line to make it 4-0 before the next three Sagehens went down in order.

Redlands left one runner on in both the fourth and fifth innings before the Sagehens got the bats going again. Brajkovich and Hurley both recorded singles through the right side before Julia Carreon laid down the sacrifice bunt to move the runners over. Waddell grounded out in the next at bat, but the Sagehens were able to score and make it 5-0. The Bulldogs went down in order with a foul out and two strikeouts, quickly bringing the Sagehens back up to bat in the top of the seventh inning. 

After Waddell singled to center and Lehner reached on a fielder's choice resulting in Waddell advancing to third, Hannah Brajkovich ripped a three-run homer straight over the center field wall to extend the Sagehens lead to 8-0. Pomona-Pitzer continued to strike as Bella Carreon reached first on a Bulldogs error that brought in Julia Carreon. The Sagehens capped off the game with a Megan Otsuka RBI single to center field to make it 10-0. The Bulldogs started the bottom of the seventh with a double down the left field line, but a strikeout and two popups ended the game 10-0 in favor of the Sagehens.

What's Up Next

With the win, the Sagehens will be back in action against Chapman in the 2022 SCIAC Postseason Tournament at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Redlands.