By Nate Rodriguez, Sports Information Intern

LA VERNE – The Lady Leopards sprinted onto the diamond for the season opener against the Hope International University Royals, where they celebrated a 3-1 win behind a complete-game effort from starting pitcher junior Rachel Rubio.

Head Coach Dennis Blas enters his second full season at the helm of the Leos after taking over amidst the nation's pandemic and trusted Rubio with the opening day nod after she pitched for him back in 2020. The right-handed Rubio came out slinging, commanding the strike zone early and often while keeping the Royals off-balance with her hard heat and manipulative off-speed pitches. She flew through the seven frames on just 76 pitches, recording her first three strikeouts of 2022 and not allowing her first run until the fifth inning.

La Verne started the scoring in the bottom of the third inning, pushing one run across on a long single off the bat of sophomore Jocelyn Robertson that one-hopped the wall in left field. Robertson had two strikes early and battled off several pitches from HIU's Makenna Stuart before the frozen rope drove in the Leopards' first run of the campaign.

The Leos started threatening again in the bottom of the fourth, sending Stuart to the showers and bringing upon the Royals' reliever Allie Puente. First-year center fielder Hayley Hsieh faced Puente with the bases loaded and drew a walk to bring home a run before junior first baseman Marissa Acosta flew out to deep center for a sacrifice fly and La Verne's third run.

The Leopards recorded six hits in the victory, including the first collegiate knocks for first-year players Hsieh and left fielder Ashley Rodriguez. The Lady Leopards will play in a doubleheader at home this Friday, Feb. 11 when they host Pacific University (Oregon).