SportsSoftball

Softball decks Sagehens, 9-1, 6-5

Sophomore Elizabeth Lomeli (#5), third baseman for the softball team, had to think fast when one of Chapman’s players tried to steal home. The Chapman player turned back to third base and was almost tagged out by Lomeli, who lost the ball. Junior Loree Grey (#14) ran to back up Lomeli in case she missed. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian
Sophomore Elizabeth Lomeli (#5), third baseman for the softball team, had to think fast when one of Chapman’s players tried to steal home. The Chapman player turned back to third base and was almost tagged out by Lomeli, who lost the ball. Junior Loree Grey (#14) ran to back up Lomeli in case she missed. / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian

by Salina Ronderos
Staff Writer
and
Christie Reed
Managing Editor

Heading into Saturday’s games with an injured player, the University of La Verne softball team proved victorious, winning both games against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, 9-1 and 6-5.

With a bandaged wrist, junior infielder Loree Grey was in the lineup and ready to assist her teammates.

“I really shouldn’t be playing because of the big game we have against Cal Lutheran on Friday. I’m really concerned about that,” said Grey.

The Leopards immediately jumped on the Sagehens when sophomore infielder Amber Hall led off the game with a base hit to center field. A bunt by freshman infielder Jennifer Caforio brought Hall home. Continuing the chain reaction of hits and runs was sophomore pitcher Sharnae Lancaster, who had an RBI single. Sophomore infielder Elizabeth Lomeli’s single brought Lancaster home for the third run of the first inning for the Leopards.

The Leopards’ hitting was just as strong in the second inning. A triple and an error gave La Verne another run, making the score 4-0 at the end of two.

The first three innings proved unlucky for the Sagehens as they were unable to break through Lancaster’s pitching and the defense of the team. The Sagehens did not score until the fourth inning on an RBI single by senior outfielder, Claudia Esparza. It was their first and final run of the game.

A bunt single by junior Jamey Hesler and a double by junior Kelly Perkins led to two more runs on an overthrow by Pomona-Pitzer pitcher Ayda Austin.

The Leopards finished off the game as strong as they started, scoring three runs in the final inning. Junior Jenna Bowman and Hall were on base when yet another overthrow by the Sagehens went out of play and both runners advanced home. With the bases loaded at the bottom of the sixth, Lomeli hit an RBI single to give La Verne its final run of the 9-1 victory.

Relieving Lancaster in the circle for the second game was Hall.

In the bottom of the third inning with the score 1-0 Pomona, sophomore Teresa Garcia singled, followed by two bunt singles by Hall and Caforio. All three later scored, bringing the score to 3-2, La Verne, after three innings.

The Sagehens picked up two runs in the fifth inning, as did the Leopards.

Garcia scored and pulled the Leopards ahead in the sixth. The Sagehens scored another in the sixth but were unable to beat the Leopards in their last attempt at bat in the seventh, ending the game, 6-5.

On Friday, April 12, the team hosted the defending National Champion Chapman Panthers, but found that the competition was too ferocious.

After losing the first game 3-0, the Leopards confronted the Panthers in a game that lasted 10 innings and left the final score 6-5, Chapman.

“I think in the first game we had five errors; we beat ourselves,” said head coach Julie Kline.

The opener left ULV scoreless and Chapman with its three runs scored off a home run, a double and a single.

The Leopards began the second game with a bang. Consecutive base hits by Hall and Caforio placed two Leopards on base.

Grey hit a line drive off of Panther shortstop Lisa Simpson’s glove, which enabled Caforio and Hall to score. Grey advanced to second on the throw home.

Lomeli drove Grey home with an infield single. The Leopards ended the inning on top, 3-0.

ULV’s defense faltered slightly when sophomore Christy Guidorizzi singled up the middle. A single to right moved Guidorizzi to third, and a bunt by freshman Laurel Bailey, left the bases loaded.

Caforio stopped a line drive by freshman Jenni Bankus, but lost track of it, giving Bankus a base hit and Guidorizzi the first run of the game for the Panthers.

Hall then pitched three straight pop-ups to Grey to prevent any other Panthers from scoring.

Aggressive play advanced the Leopards in the second. Bowman hit a line drive up the middle and stole second on a 1-0 pitch. Hall then hit a chopper up the middle and beat it out for a single. After a fielder’s choice and a base hit by Caforio, Bowman came home.

Little hitting took place in the remainder of the inning. The score was left 4-1.

The game took a turn for the worse and hurt the Leopards morale when junior Casey Chavez smashed a home run over the fence.

With two outs in the top of the third, Guidorizzi scored and brought Chapman within one, 4-3.

In the fifth, Chapman became determined to stay on the bases. Senior Lisa Cancilla walked and Guidorizzi singled. After a sacrifice by senior Kathy Donovan and three more base hits, Cancilla and Guidorizzi made it home, giving the No. 1 ranked team the lead, 5-4.

Later, with the score 5-5, the game went into extra innings. ULV almost ended the battle in the eighth when Bowman singled with two outs, but a fly by Hall ended the inning and left her on base.

Donovan took one final blow at the Leopards morale when she hit a home run, leaving the score in the ninth, 6-5.

“In the second game the fence lost it for us,” said head coach Julie Kline, referring to the two home runs.

“In my heart and the team’s heart we won the game,” said Kline. “We lost because of uncontrollable circumstances.”

Salina Ronderos
Other Stories Bio
Christie Reed
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Veero Der-Karabetian
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