La Verne, CA - The University of La Verne opened the 2023 campaign at home with double-header action against George Fox.

Starting the season picked to finish third in the SCIAC preseason polls, the Leopards looked to set a precedent for their season in their opening day debut. Both teams would go scoreless in the first inning of play, but George Fox put five runs on the board in the second inning to take a 5-0 lead. Isabella Bastien would score the Leopards first and only run of the game in the fourth inning but it would not be enough to mount a comeback as La Verne fell in the first game 6-1.

The intermission between game one and game two served as fuel for the Leopards to avenge the opening loss to George Fox. Ashley Rodriguez had an RBI in the first inning that led to a score by Haylee Hsieh, giving La Verne a 1-0 lead after one inning. La Verne took control of the game in the second inning, scoring five runs (Mariss Acosta, Clarissa Salazar, Erika Garcia, Taylor Gray, Ashley Rodriguez) leading to a 6-0 lead after two innings. Jaidynn Alvarez would control the game from the mound, throwing 24 strikes with 3 strikeouts. Ashley Rodriguez had 5 RBIs in the game as Isabella Garcia and Clarissa Salazar each had 2 RBIs, leading the Leopard to an exciting 10-7 victory over George Fox. 

La Verne returns to action tomorrow at home against Pacific Lutheran; the game starts at 11:00 AM.