by Heather Baxter
Staff Writer
Execution was the key for the University of La Verne’s softball team as it split a doubleheader against defending SCIAC champion Cal Lutheran Regals on Saturday.
The Leopards (7-5) beat the Regals in game one in an impressive 10-3 performance.
Early pitching problems for the Regals allowed the Leopards to capitalize early on, scoring a run in the first inning. The Regals’ starting pitcher Christine Halcomb struggled with her control, walking two and giving up a single in the first.
The Regals answered back in the second, scoring two runs. But it was in the third inning that the Leopards were able to break open the game.
Leopards senior second baseman Sophia Garcia started the third inning rally with a blooper past the diving shortstop for a single. The double from senior catcher Kadie Tillema brought Garcia in.
After giving up three more singles, and walking two more batters, Regals’ head coach Jodi Eyraud elected to bring in Melissa Eichenberger on a 3-0 count on the current batter with the bases loaded.
“It’s the coach’s decision, but I felt that I could have been taken out a little earlier,” said Halcomb.
Eichenberger walked the first batter she faced, before getting the Regals out of the inning. But, the damage had been done, as the Leopards scored six runs, putting them ahead 7-2.
The Regals were never able to get back their earlier momentum, and although they scored once more in the third inning, they were held scoreless the remainder of the game.
“We all did, as a team, really good,” said Garcia, who went 4-for-5 with two RBI. “We pulled together and caught up when we had to.”
“We executed everything that we needed to execute. We, mentally, were in the game the whole day. Everyone contributed and we pulled it through,” said assistant coach Laurie Zernickow.
The Leopards’ bats fell silent in the second game, though, as they were defeated by the Regals, 5-3.
Although the Leopards again pulled ahead early, scoring one run in the first, offensively, the team was not there, going a combined 13-for-35.
The Regals’ pitching settled down and their offense came alive against sophomore pitcher Robin Haaker. Catcher Julie Di Fatta went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, and designated hitter Jessica Armacost went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
First baseman Kristine Everly’s triple in the third, which scored two runs, that put the Regals ahead, 5-1.
“We hit better this game,” Everly said. “We had jitters the first game, so we just pulled together more as a team to win this one.”
The Leopards battled back with a run in each of the next two innings but were unable to pull through with a victory.
“[The first game] fired us up. We didn’t want two losses. We were much more focused,” said Halcomb.
Leopards’ head coach Julie Kline summed up their performance, “Mentally, we let down a little. They work hard, and I don’t question their effort. But, defensively, we let down. Offensively, we let down too.”
Kline believe that no one player won the first game, nor does any player deserve to take the blame for the loss.
“You win as a team, and you lose as a team,” Kline said.
Wednesday, La Verne was able to defeat Cazenovia College 11-0, but fell to both Chapman University, 5-3, and the University of Puget Sound, 6-1, in the Chapman Tournament.
Four runs in the fourth inning and seven more in the fifth put the Leopards well on top of Cazenovia in the opener.
Garcia racked up a total of four RBI for the game. Other notable performances were turned in by Tillema, who went 3-for-4 with three RBI; freshman pitcher Lacey Cramer gave up only one hit through five, when the game was called.
La Verne did not fair as well against Chapman. Although La Verne scored three in the first inning, it was held scoreless the remainder of the game.
Panther second baseman Amie Barnes went 3-for- 3, while Leopards senior left fielder Lindsey Weber went 1-for-2, recording all three RBI for ULV.
ULV’s next game is at the University of San Diego on Sunday at 1 p.m.
