Two games against Pacific Lutheran produced a pair of 3-2 decisions for the University of La Verne softball team. The first game resulted in an 8-inning defeat with the second ending in a walk-off victory on Valentine's Day at Wig Beach Diamond in Claremont.
In the opener, PLU's Stacey Hagensen hit a 2-run homer in the top of the eighth to break a 1-1 deadlock. The Leopards responded in the bottom half of the frame to load the bases with no one out. The Lutes recorded the next two outs without a Leopard advancing before Daryn Schively singled to left to bring in Tara Allis to cut the margin to 3-2. But PLU reliever Jackie Martinez got the final out on a fielder's choice to record the save.
Trailing 1-0 in the third, Melissa Carlson led off the third with a walk, stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout. Carlson eventually came in to score on an infield error to knot the game at 1-1, where it remained until the eighth.
PLU starter Ramona Lorton earned the win holding the Leopards to 5 hits.
The second game was tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh, when Schively led off with a single and was followed by Amanda Hastings, who reached on a Lute fielding error. Mandy Brenner delivered a sacrifice bunt to advance Schively to third base. After Carlson was intentionally walked, Lissa Ishihara hit a hard liner that was bobbled by a Lute infielder, allowing Schively to score the winning run.
Brianna Hogg pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. The Leopards were held to 5 hits but were aided by 4 PLU errors, including 2 in the seventh. Schively was the lone Leopard player with more than one hit in the contest, finishing 2-3 at the plate.
La Verne (3-1, 2-0 SCIAC) resumes conference play this weekend when it hits the road to face Redlands on Saturday.
