The University of La Verne softball squad notched its sixth consecutive win by sweeping past visiting Howard Payne University (Tex.) in non-conference action by scores of 4-1 and 7-4 Thursday at Wheeler Park.
A four-run fifth inning in the second game helped propel the Leopards to overcome a 4-0 deficit to complete the twinbill sweep.
Howard Payne plated two runs each in the first and second innings to claim a four-run advantage. In the first, HPU's Kelby Mann belted a two-run homer to put the Lady Jackets up 2-0, and Ashley Silva hit a two-run single an inning later to give the visitors a 4-0 cushion.
After three scoreless innings, the Leos got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Candice Nunez.
In the fifth, Amanda Hastings doubled and came into to score on a single from Lisa Neu to cut the lead to 4-2. Tara Allis followed with a double to drive in Neu to pull the Leos within a run. Dee Dee Burns continued by reaching on a fielding error, sending Allis to third. After Burns stole second, Raven Freret smacked a 2-run single to drive in Allis and Burns to give the Leos their first lead of the contest at 5-4.
La Verne added two insurance runs in the sixth as Arielle Johnson led off the bottom half of the frame with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball. Johnson scored on an RBI triple by Hastings. Mandy Brenner would close the scoring by driving in Hastings on a bunt single to push the Leopard advantage to 7-4.
Senior hurler Delaney Baylor pitched a scoreless seventh to record her second save of the season. Carly Asher pitched four scoreless innings of relief to earn the victory.
The Leopards pounded 13 hits in the Game 2 victory. Freret went 3-3 at the plate with Hastings going 2-3 with a triple and double.
In the opener, the Leopards broke a scoreless tie by scoring all four of their runs in the fourth inning.
Burns led off with a triple and was followed by Freret, who doubled in Burns for the game's first run. Lisa Neu pinch ran for Freret and advanced to second on a walk to Jackie Duran. Both runners moved up one base on a wild pitch, which led to a sacrifice fly by Johnson to score Neu. Brenner continued with an RBI single to score Nunez to stake the Leos to a 4-0 advantage.
HPU got on the board on a solo homer from Ashley Silva in the top of the sixth for the Lady Jackets' lone run.
Baylor pitched a complete-game victory for the Green and Orange, striking out 9 batters on a three-hitter to improve to 4-2 on the season.
La Verne (6-2) had 10 hits from nine different players in the opener as Duran had the only multi-hit game for the Leos going 2-2. Overall, the Leopards collected 23 hits in the two games. Howard Payne fell to 1-5 on the season.
The Leopards resume SCIAC action this Saturday as it hosts #17 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (6-1, 3-0 SCIAC) at Wheeler Park beginning at 12:00 pm.
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