The University of La Verne softball team earned a doubleheader split with visiting Cal Lutheran, falling 1-0 in the opener before posting an 8-0 mercy-rule triumph on Senior Recognition Day Saturday at Wheeler Park.
The Leopards salvaged the split in Game 2 with a pair of runs in the second inning, a run in the third before the ending the contest with five runs in the sixth.
In the second, the Leos got on the board on run scoring singles from Candice Nunez and Dee Dee Burns. In the third, Tara Allis led off with a double and came in to score on an RBI single from Jackie Duran for a 3-0 lead.
Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth and fifth innings. In the bottom the sixth, the Leopards received three consecutive hits as a single from Danielle Vela followed by an RBI double from Burns and a run scoring single from Amanda Hastings put the Leos up 5-0. Hastings advanced to second when Allis was hit by a pitch, and Raven Freret followed with a two-run double scoring both Hastings and Allis to lead 7-0.
The game ended on a Regal miscue as Daryn Schiveley reached on a throwing error as Freret came in to score from second base to conclude the contest by mercy rule.
Laura Olson allowed just three hits in six innings of work to register her 12th victory of the season. Allis finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs scored while the trio of Burns, Freret and Schiveley went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Cal Lutheran took the opener bolstered by a strong pitching effort from Shonna Christianson, who allowed just five hits to notch a complete-game shutout.
The lone run was scored by Kayla Sakamoto, who led off the top of the third with a walk, reached second on a single from Kathleen Watson-Otani and advanced to third on a groundout from Katelyn Downing. Brittany Labbe followed with a groundout to second, allowing Sakamoto to reach the plate for a 1-0 lead.
La Verne threatened in the bottom of the fourth by loading the bases with one out, but Christianson escaped as the next two batters popped out and lined out, respectively to preserve the one-run lead. Christianson allowed just two hits over the final three innings to notch the victory.
Prior to the game, the Leopards honored the quartet of Allis, Burns, Schiveley and Hastings as part of the Senior Recognition Day festivities.
The Leopards are currently in fourth place in the SCIAC standings and will resume action next Friday as they play host to Pomona-Pitzer for two games beginning at 2:00 pm.
