La Verne, California - The University of La Verne Leopards split a doubleheader against the University of Texas-Dallas Comets, dropping the first game 5-1 and winning the second game 4-3 via a walk-off from Erika Garcia.
Game One
The Leopards and Comets played a tightly contested matchup for most of the game being tied at 1-1 after the first five innings. Early on, La Verne trailed 1-0 but Taylor Gray drove in Ashley Rodriguez in the bottom of the third to even the game at 1-1. The Comets scored four runs in the 6th inning to break it open at 5-1, ultimately winning by that score as La Verne could not muster up much offensively against Texas-Dallas' starting pitcher, Emilie Hoelscher. Rachel Rubio did her best to hold the Comets down and despite giving up 5 runs, none of them were earned.
Game Two
The second game went back and forth with four lead changes throughout the game. The Leopards jumped on the board in the first inning when Nat Aguilera hit a ground-rule double to bring home Julie Contreras. The Comets answered the Leo's with a run in the second inning to even the game at 1-1. Taylor Gray drew a bases loaded walk to bring in Erika Garcia to give the Leopards the lead at 2-1 in the bottom of the 4th. Once again, Texas-Dallas responded in the next half inning by hitting a two-run homer to take a 3-2 lead. Leopards outfielder, Ashley Rodriguez, doubled in Aguilera to tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the 5th inning. With the game tied at 3-3, the Leopards had two on and two out for shortstop Erika Garcia who has been starting in place of Bailey Grani who went down with an injury last week. Garcia drove a pitch off the leftfield fence to bring home Kat Navarro and walk off the Comets 4-3.
Standouts
Kat Navarro scored the winning run in game two but also provided 2 scoreless innings of relief pitching while striking out 6 batters. Nat Aguilera went 3-4 at the plate, scored a run, and drove in a run. Taylor Gray collected an RBI in each of the two games. Haylee Hsieh notched 3 hits in the doubleheader, putting her team-leading total to 24 hits on the season.
Next Up
After 10 consecutive non-conference games, the Leopards will be back to SCIAC action as they head on the road to play the Whittier Poets this Friday at 3:00 PM.
