For the second consecutive day, the University of La Verne softball team split a pair of one-run decisions in a conference doubleheader, this time topping the University of Redlands 1-0 in the opener before the Bulldogs prevailed 3-2 in the second game Sunday afternoon in Redlands.

La Verne (10-4, 6-4 SCIAC) used the pitching of Katherine Kibbe and the bat of Raven Freret to secure the opening-game victory.

The game's lone run was scored in the top of the third when Laura Olson singled to left field, advanced to second on a Danielle Vela sacrifice bunt and reached third on a fly out from Rachel Hong.  Freret would drive Olson home with a two-out single off Bulldog starter Kayla Uphold down the right field line for a 1-0 lead.

Kibbe would make the run stand as she blanked the Bulldogs for seven innings, yielding four hits while striking out three to win the pitcher's duel against Uphold and remain unbeaten on the season. 

The second game saw the Leopards take a 2-0 lead with a run apiece in the second and third innings.  In the second frame, Melisa Sponholz smacked a two-out RBI single, scoring Mackenzie Dutton from second base for a 1-0 lead.  In the third, Danielle Vela led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout, and would score on a single from Kibbe to give the Leopards a 2-0 cushion.

Redlands (10-3, 7-1 SCIAC) responded with three runs in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a two-run triple from Sarah Beeman to knot the contest at 2-2.  Nikoli Sharp followed with an RBI double to score Beeman for a 3-2 Bulldog lead.

La Verne looked to tie the game in the seventh with a runner on second, but Uphold induced a game-ending double play to secure the win for the Bulldogs.

The Leopards tallied nine hits in the game including two each from Vela, Kibbe and Sponholz.  Vela finished 2-4 with two doubles and a run scored.

La Verne will be back in action on Saturday, March 9 when it plays its annual Alumni Game scheduled for a 1:00 pm start at Wheeler Park.