CLAREMONT, CA — The University of La Verne softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday at No. 15 Claremont-Mudd-Scrips.

Season Impact

The Leopards fall to 6-4 overall and 3-3 in conference play. The Athenas improve to 9-2 overall and 8-0 in the SCIAC.

Game One: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 8, La Verne 7

The Leopards scored twice in the top of the seventh to force extra innings, but the Athenas edged La Verne in the eighth to take game one.

Katheryn Navarro led the leopards with two RBI, two runs, two hits, and a walk. Navarro also got the start in the circle, striking out three in seven and a third innings of work.

Justice Borden tied the game in the seventh when she doubled with two runners on, sending Navarro and Tauney Mack across the plate to even the game 7-7. 

With one out in the bottom of the eighth, the Athenas put two runners on the base path off back-to-back singles. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps then caught a break when Chloe Amarilla reached on an error that sent the game-winning run across the plate.

After falling behind 3-0 in the first inning, Mikayla Mendoza got the Leopards on the board when she singled in Navarro.

Navarro got to work the next inning with when she singled to left to bring in Francheska Juarez and Gabriella Underwood. Shelby Tevis added an RBI in the fourth.

Maddie Valdez led CMS with a home run and three RBI.

Game Two: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 5, La Verne 3

The Leopards took a 3-1 lead in the fourth, but the Athenas responded with a pair of runs in the fourth and sixth to wrap up the sweep.

Navarro finished with two hits, an RBI, and a run. Carly Condon and Melissa Garcia each added an RBI.

Borden went 2-2 at the plate with a walk and Sienna Kendricks added two hits and a run. Underwood and Navarro each hit a double.

Garcia got the Leopards on the board in the fourth when she hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score in Kendricks. Navarro stepped up next and gave the Leopards the lead she singled up the middle to send Underwood home. 

Condon added to La Verne's lead later in the inning when she reached on fielder's choice and brought in Navarro.

Tied 3-3 in the sixth, Alexa Schulten capitalized with the bases loaded, singling to left center to bring in a pair of runs and give the Athenas the lead for good.

Next Game

The Leopards continue their stretch of games against top-15 opponents with a doubleheader against No. 7 Berry tomorrow at Campus West beginning at noon.