Redlands 3, Whitworth 1 (Complete box score and play by play)

REDLANDS, Calif. - Three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning led host Redlands to a 3-1 win over Whitworth in the first round of the NCAA Division III softball tournament on Thursday afternoon at the Bulldogs' Field of Dreams.

With the loss the Pirates (26-13) drop into the losers' bracket and will play top-seeded Chapman at Noon on Friday. Chapman lost to 5th-seeded La Verne 4-1 in 8 innings on Thursday.

Whitworth took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Mandee Ewards doubled to deep center field to open the inning. She was sacrificed to third base and scored on a wild pitch. But the Pirates could not muster another serious scoring threat against Redlands' starting pitcher Katie Brnca (15-6). Brnca allowed two hits and a walk, while striking out two Pirates.

The Bulldogs (30-11) scored all three of their runs in the fifth inning with two outs. After Ashley Serbus opened with a single, she was sacrificed to second base. Whitworth pitcher Jo Sonnett then struck out pinch hitter Deborah Greer. Lead off hitter Allyson Leslie singled to shortstop, but Whitworth's Heather Case kept the ball in the infield preventing Serbus from scoring. But Leslie stole second on the next pitch. Then Melanie Hamlin reached on an error at shortstop, allowing Serbus to score. Hamlin stole second, setting up Megan Cooley's pop up to short center field, which fell just out of the reach of Jodi Schock, allowing both Leslie and Hamlin to come around to score.

Sonnett fell to 19-7 this season, allowing five hits and one walk. She struck out seven batters.

Redlands will play Hardin-Simmons, an 8-6 winner over Linfield, on Friday.