by Brian Ortega
Staff Writer
In what appeared to be one of its toughest opponents yet, the University of La Verne softball team took on the University of Redlands Bulldogs in a three-game weekend.
Saturday’s doubleheader started off on a high note with the Leopards playing an offensive game at Redlands. ULV scored twice in the sixth inning and four times in the seventh to win, 8-2.
“Coming into that game, we realized we had to step it up,” said sophomore Kourtney Tomlinson.
Freshman third baseman Kelly Silagyi went three for four at the plate. Pitcher Mandy Tillema pitched all seven innings and gave up only two runs.
“Mandy pitched a really good game and came through for us,” Tomlinson said.
Game two was sent into extra innings after both sides were shutout in regulation play. But ULV came up short as two runs in the top of the ninth inning would not be enough. Redlands answered with three runs, sealing the game with a 3-2 loss.
“I think we had some opportunities that we did not capitalize on,” said sophomore A.J. Taggart.
In the Friday game, ULV was able to keep the Bulldogs scoreless until the top of the fourth.
Redlands then came out strong in the fourth inning, hitting a home run that left one of La Verne’s outfielders running through a fence in the outfield attempting to save it.
The Bulldogs put up a good fight for the Leopards and kept them offensively unable to produce results. The game ended with the Bulldogs victorious over ULV, 2-0.
“I think we didn’t come into the (Friday) game with the intensity level we should have,” Tomlinson said. “All the girls did a great job and we wish we could have gotten the win.”
ULV travels to Whittier at 3 p.m. today, followed by a doubleheader at noon tomorrow at Wheeler Park.
