After a 10-game homestand, the University of La Verne softball team played its first road games in over a month as the squad took on NAIA member Cal State San Marcos.  The Cougars took both games of the twinbill by scores of 8-0 and 4-1 Wednesday at CSUSM Softball Field.

The Cougars, ranked #8 nationally in NAIA, plated a run in the bottom of the first and tacked on four runs to build a 5-0 lead.  In the fourth, a homer from Sarah Quiambao sparked a three-run frame to take the opener in five innings.

Cougar pitcher Brenna Sandberg allowed 1 hit - a first-inning single by Raven Freret - while striking out 8 batters.

In the second game, La Verne jumped out to a 1-0 lead but the Cougars broke through in the fourth, taking advantage of a key two-out error to plate a pair of runs. CSUSM would stretch the lead to 4-1 the following inning. 

Sandberg pitched a complete game to earn her second win of the day to improve to 16-4 on the season.

Wednesday's doubleheader marked the first two games of a 10-game stretch away from home for La Verne.   The Leopards (9-5, 5-1 SCIAC) return to conference action on Saturday to face SCIAC leader Redlands (15-1, 8-0) in a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 pm.