WHITTIER – The University of La Verne softball team could not get its offense going as it dropped a pair of games to Whittier on Saturday afternoon.
Game 1: Whittier 6, La Verne 0
Whittier took advantage of four walks and a hit batter in the first inning to get out to a 5-0 lead and La Verne never recovered as it lost, 6-0, in Game 1.
The Poets loaded the bases in the 1st with a hit by pitch and two walks, then pushed its first run cross on another walk. Nikki Delano then followed with a grand slam to put the Poets up by 5-0.
La Verne looked as if it were going to respond right away when it loaded the bases after a leadoff out in the top of the 2nd. Jackie Duran and Breanna Delgadillo singled in consecutive at bats. Rebecca Ireland then worked a walk to pack the bases with only one out, but the ensuing batters could not come through for the Leopards.
The Leopard offense was kept quiet otherwise. Whittier starter Courney DeLano tossed a complete game shutout, striking out four while walking three.
Rachel Hong was excellent in relief. The junior gave up just three hits in 5.1 innings and struck out five.
Katie Thompson had a pinch hit single in the 9th.
Game 2: Whittier 4, La Verne 1
La Verne got on the board first in Game 2 with a Raven Freret RBI-double in the 1st, but that was all it would manage as the Leopards lost, 4-1.
The Poets immediately got the run back in the bottom of the 1st. Emi Shimamoto reached on an error, Mickala Gonzales singled to center and Jordan Learn drove in Cundiff with a single to tie the game.
Whittier added two more runs in the 3rd on a Gonzales double and a Learn infield single to the pitcher. Emi Shimamoto added the final tally of the game with a double to center that scored Alexandra Flores in the 4th inning.
Freret was 2-for-3. Alexis Schiff and Katherine Kibbe each added a hit for the Leopards.
Freshman Hayley Jacquess threw 1.2 clean innings in relief, striking out two.
Samantha Blum went the distance in the circle for Whittier and earned the win.
La Verne is back in action tomorrow at Redlands for another doubleheader. The first game starts at noon.
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