LA VERNE, Calif. — Katherine Kibbe fired a two-hit gem, Alexis Schiff and Mackenzie Dutton went yard and the University of La Verne softball team shut out No. 7 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 2-0, on Sunday afternoon at Campus West.
La Verne improves to 25-9 overall and moves into a first-place tie with the Athenas (28-7-1 overall) in the SCIAC standings at 21-3. Both teams have already clinched the top two spots in the 2016 SCIAC Postseason Tournament but the Leopards have taken three games out four from the Athenas and will have the advantage in a tiebreaker situation for the hosting privilege.
Kibbe (15-4) was at her absolute best in the circle. The senior kept the Athenas guessing all afternoon and held them to a season-low two hits to pick up her 15th win of the season.
Kibbe's opposite number Anna Gurr (15-4) was solid as well, scattering just five hits over six innings, but made two mistakes and Schiff and Dutton punished her.
Schiff launched a 275-foot solo shot over the center field fence in the bottom of the second inning open the scoring and Dutton pulled one to deep left for an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.
La Verne's defense was flawless and played a huge role in keeping CMS off the board. Fourteen of 20 balls put in play by the Athenas were grounders and La Verne's infield quartet converted every one of them into outs.
The Leopards are back in action on Friday at Cal Lutheran.