LA VERNE, CA — Jiana Rojo and Rachel Rubio were both stellar in the circle, the Leopards got the job done at the plate, and the University of La Verne softball team took down the NAIA No. 9 Vanguard Lions in a pair of games Saturday afternoon.
Season Impact
The Leopards keep their record unblemished and improve to 4-0. Vanguard starts the season 0-2.
Game One: La Verne 2, Vanguard 0
Rojo posted another solid outing in her second start of the season. A week after striking out a career-high eight batters in the Leopards' season opener, the junior blanked the Lions in a complete-game outing, struck out two, and walked just one. She also added a hit in the win.
Francheska Juarez was dominant at the plate, finishing 3-3 with a double. The sophomore scored what proved to be the difference-maker in the first inning, when she got on board with through the left side, stole second, then scored off a Justice Borden base hit.
Ashley Soto brought in an insurance run in the fourth when she grounded out to second base to score Kayla Giannatasio. Soto finished with a hit and stolen base.
Vanessa Dwyer led the Lions in the circle with four strikeouts and Johanna Lewis totaled two hits.
Game Two: La Verne 2, Vanguard 1
Rubio picked up the second win of her Leopard career, striking out two while allowing just one run and one walk. The freshman earned her first complete-game win in the orange and green.
The Leopards scored both their runs in the second inning set up by a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Gray that put Borden at second and Rojo on third.
Giannatasio stepped up next and scored Rojo with a sacrifice fly to center. Natalia Aguilera stepped up next and singled in Borden for the 2-0 advantage.
Emily Howard cut the Leopards' lead in half in the next inning when she singled in Lewis, but that was all the offense the Lions could generate.
Next Game
The Leopards play their annual alumni game on Saturday, February 8 before facing their first NCAA opponent of the season when they host Northwest Conference member Pacific Lutheran on Saturday, February 15 in a doubleheader beginning at noon.
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