LA VERNE, Calif. — The University of La Verne softball team scored an exciting 3-2 win in their opener against Pomona-Pitzer, but the Sagehens pulled off a win in game two to salvage the split.
Season Impact: The Leopards and Sagehens are in a tight race for the top spot in the SCIAC. La Verne now stands at 20-12 overall and 15-5 in the SCIAC. Pomona-Pitzer moves to 25-9 overall and 16-6 in conference play.
Game One: La Verne 3, Pomona-Pitzer 2
With the game even 2-2 in the top of the seventh and the winning run on third base, Shelby Tevis laid down a perfect bunt and Rachel Ogata raced home and slid under the tag to give the Leopards the 3-2 win.
The Leopards had to rally in the final inning after the Sagehens took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh. Justice Borden got the Leopards' bats going with a double off the bottom of the left field wall to put La Verne in scoring position. After a sacrifice bunt by Michelle Deguzman put Borden on third, Ogata hit the first pitch she saw to right field to send the tying run home.
On the very next pitch, centerfielder Carly Condon hit a shot off the left field fence to put Ogata on third to set up Tevis.
Angelica DeAngelo gave the Leopards the opening lead of the game when she blasted a solo shot for her fifth home run of the year.
Jiana Rojo picked up her seventh win of the year, in her complete-game effort. Borden finished the game 2-2 at the plate with a walk.
Liz Rodarte took the loss for the Sagehens.
Game Two: Pomona-Pitzer 7, La Verne 5
Katheryn Navarro hit her SCIAC leading 10th home run of the year and the Leopards got out to an early 4-0 lead, but the Sagehens scored seven runs over two innings to win game two.
Tevis added a pair of RBI in the second inning when she drove in Condon and Ogata.
Melissa Garcia and Sienna Kendricks each finished with an RBI.
The Sagehens benefited from a pair of long balls. Rodarte hit a two-run shot in the fourth to get Pomona-Pitzer on the board. Izzy Deatherage gave the Sagehens the lead with a three-run homer in the fifth.
Elisa Ponce struck out six in six and two-thirds innings of work. Ashley Caro took the loss.
Next Series: The Leopards next host Occidental on Friday, April 20 in a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.
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