LA VERNE, Calif. — Melissa Garcia hit a two-run bomb to put the Leopards ahead and the University of La Verne softball team earned a spot in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament Championship game after defeating Pomona-Pitzer 4-1 Saturday afternoon. 

The Leopards will face Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the championship game. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps heads into the game with a 2-0 tournament record after defeating La Verne yesterday and beating Pomona-Pitzer earlier today. 

The championship game is to slated begin at noon. The Leopards will have to defeat the Athenas twice to claim the SCIAC Postseason crown and the conference's at-large bid. The second game if needed will begin approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Sunday's opener.

Heading into the sixth in a 1-1 stalemate, Justice Borden led off with a double to left to get the Leopards into scoring position. Garcia stepped up two batters later with two outs and blasted a shot to left center for the go-ahead runs.

Carly Condon added an insurance run the next inning with an RBI single to center that scored Shelby Tevis. 

Jiana Rojo picked up the win, going five innings in her start with a strikeout. Elisa Ponce picked up the save, striking out two in the final two innings of the game. 

Katheryn Navarro got the Leopards on the board in the first when she drove in Angelica DeAngelo with a double to left.

Liz Rodarte took the loss for the Sagehens.

SCIAC Tournament Schedule

Friday, May 4
Game 1: CMS 2, La Verne 0 
Game 2: Pomona-Pitzer 6, Whittier 5 

Saturday, May 5 
Game 3: La Verne 3, Whittier 2
Game 4: CMS 2, Pomona-Pitzer 1
Game 5: La Verne 4, Pomona-Pitzer 1

Sunday, May 6
Game 6: Championship Game, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps vs. La Verne - 12 p.m.
Game 7: If necessary - 30 minutes following completion of Game 6.