University of Redlands softball team headed back to NCAA Division III World Series
University of Redlands senior catcher Natalie Lowthers was not ready for her college softball career to come to an end.
Lowthers, who graduated from Serrano High School, belted a grand slam to cap a five-run outburst in the third inning, and the Bulldogs held on for a 5-4 win over Texas Lutheran in Game 3 of an NCAA Division III super regional series in Seguin, Texas.
Redlands (43-6) dropped the series opener Thursday but bounced back to sweep both games Friday morning and afternoon. The Bulldogs advanced to the Division III Women's College World Series for the second straight season. Redlands is seeded fifth and will open against No. 4 Linfield College (42-6) on Thursday at the James I Moyer Sports Complex in Salem, Virginia.
"Man that was a crazy day," Redlands coach Jose Ortega said about Friday's sweep to win the super regional and advance to the Elite Eight. "We knew we had our hands full coming in … they even made tough it for us in that last inning, made us sweat a little bit. Ultimately, we made enough plays to get to the next level.. And now were headed to the World Series. It's crazy."
Redlands had its back against the wall after Texas Lutheran's 5-3 win in the series opener. Redlands had 13 hits but stranded 11 runners on base in that game..
Paige Ellinger (Great Oak High) and Caitlyn Griffith (Rancho Christian High) combined on a four-hitter, as Redlands evened the series with a 3-1 win Friday morning. Ellinger allowed one run on three hits in 3 2/3 innings of work, and Griffith slammed the door shut with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory. Griffith surrendered only one hit in Game 2 of the series.
Texas Lutheran (42-6) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning of Game 2, but Lowthers tied things up in the bottom half of that frame with an RBI groundout that brought in Leila Gomez (Aquinas High). Redlands surged ahead in the fifth on a pair of sacrifice flies by Gomez and Katlyn Gandara. Gomez, a junior outfielder, went 2-for-2 to lead a seven-hit attack by Redlands.
That set up a winner-take-all showdown in Game 3. Texas Lutheran once again grabbed the early lead, as Serena Gonzalez singled home Riley Davila in the bottom of the first inning. Redlands loaded up the bases with one out in the third inning, and Gandara tied the score with an RBI single. That set the stage for Lowthers, who gave Redlands a 5-1 lead with a grand slam.
"It feels really cool. It's just special to go out there and just come through for your team like that," Lowthers said. "We wanted this game so so bad, and like Coach Jose said to keep playing together. It's not even about the spotlight for me. It's just the feeling that I came through for my teammates. … Coming through and seeing everyone smiling was a really cool moment."
Texas Lutheran did not go quietly. Gonzalez singled in another run in the third inning, and Ashley McMahon scored on the back end of a double steal in the sixth inning to get Texas Lutheran within 5-3. Gandara started the game inside the circle for Redlands and allowed three runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings. Griffith took over in the sixth and got a fly out to strand a runner at second.
Griffith ran into some trouble in the seventh, however. Caelee Clark led things off with a double, and Davila reached base on an error and stole second. Texas Lutheran cut the deficit to 5-4 after a sacrifice fly by Taylor Vannett, but Griffith got the next two batters to pop up to Avery Provenzano at second and strand the tying run at third. Griffith earned her seventh save of the season.
The Bulldogs will see a familiar opponent when they square off against Linfield. The Wildcats ended Redlands' 2025 season at the Division III WCWS and also swept a double header earlier this season. Linfield has won five straight against Redlands dating back to the 2024 season and holds a 36-11 in the all-time series.
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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 10:15 PM.