Redlands, CA- The University of La Verne softball team lost their first-round matchup against the Chapman Panthers 8-7. The Leopards will play a must-win elimination game in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament tomorrow.

Natalia Aguilera started off the scoring in the 1st inning for La Verne when she doubled home Taylor Gray to give the Leopards a 1-0 lead. Chapman evened the score in the 2nd inning only for La Verne to counter in the 3rd inning. Katheryn Navarro doubled home Gray and Aguilera knocked in Navarro on a sacrifice fly to push La Verne to a 3-1 lead. The Panthers pounced back with two runs in the 3rd inning to tie the game at 3-3 and followed it up with another two-run inning in the 4th inning to give the Panthers a 5-3 lead. Aguilera would come through for the Leopards as she doubled in Gray and Navarro came in to score on an error to even the score at 5-5 in the 5th inning. Janisa Rojo drove in the go-ahead run later in the 5th inning to give La Verne a 6-5 lead. In the 6th inning Cailin Bliss came scampering home on an RBI double from Gray and the Leopards held a 7-5 lead. 

La Verne was unable to hold the lead as Chapman scored a run in the 6th inning and two in the 7th inning to walk it off against the Leopards 8-7. 

Standouts

Taylor Gray went 2-3 at the plate, knocked in a run, and scored three times for La Verne. Nat Aguilera paced the Leopards with 3 RBI's on 2-3 hitting. Katheryn Navarro scored two runs and drove in a run. Erika Garcia collected two base hits for the Leopards.

Next Up

The Leopards will play the number one seeded Redlands Bulldogs at 11:00 AM tomorrow morning.