REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of La Verne softball team lost two SCIAC games at Redlands on Saturday. Despite recording 20 hits on the day, the Leopards fell 7-5 in Game 1 and 7-4 in Game 2.

Two unearned runs proved to be the difference in Game 1 after La Verne had nearly clawed its way back from an early 5-0 deficit.

Raven Freret drove in Rebecca Ireland with a single in the 3^rd. In the 5^th, Freret and Alexis Schiff came through with a single and double, respectively, to bring home three and get the Leopards within 5-4.

But with one out in the bottom of the 5^th, Amanda Ang, who had come in to pinch run for Vicki King, stole second base and came around to score on an error to put the Bulldogs up 6-4.

The Leopards countered in the top of the 6^th when Rebecca Ireland doubled and Danielle Vela drove her in with a single to center, but Redlands tacked on another unearned run in their half of the 6^th to put the game away. Marissa Romero walked to lead off, stole second and took third on an error by the catcher on the steal attempt. Nikoli Sharp then brought Romero home with a groundout RBI to short for the game's final tally.

Hayley Jacquess did not allow an earned run in 5 innings of relief and gave up just three hits.

A slow start cost the Leopards again in Game 2.

La Verne put up four runs in the 5^th inning after being held scoreless through the first four, but was already down 5-0 entering the 5^th.

AJ Carrasco put the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI single in the 3^rd and Redlands added four runs in the 4^th aided by two homeruns. Amanda Clark led off the inning with a solo shot to left and Carrasco capped it with a big fly to right to open a five-run lead.

The Leopards nearly got all of it back the next half-inning. Kate Cunningham was hit by a pitch, Ireland singled and then De La Rosa brought both of them home with a double to deep center. Later in the inning, Breanna Delgadillo sacrificed in De La Rosa and Katie Thompson plated Freret with a single to bring the Leopards within 5-4, but La Verne couldn't do further damage.

The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the 5^th inning on a pair of doubles by King and Carrasco.

Ireland was 5-for-7 on the day with four runs scored.

De La Rosa was 2-for-4 in the game with two RBIs and Freret had two hits.

La Verne travels to Arizona next week for the Tucson Invitational Games. On March 18-20, the Leopards will go up against some of the best Division III competition in the country.