SportsSoftball

Leopards steal series from Claremont, 3-0

An instant too late for the out, shortstop Jessica DeGiacomo attempts to stop Claremont-Mudd-Scripps’ Kirstin Wilson (No. 4) from stealing second base in the first inning of the University of La Verne’s softball game against CMS Feb. 25 in Claremont. Wilson put the Athenas on the scoreboard first, but the Leopards made a comeback in the fourth inning, taking the game, 9-1. / photo by Chrissy Zehrbach
An instant too late for the out, shortstop Jessica DeGiacomo attempts to stop Claremont-Mudd-Scripps’ Kirstin Wilson (No. 4) from stealing second base in the first inning of the University of La Verne’s softball game against CMS Feb. 25 in Claremont. Wilson put the Athenas on the scoreboard first, but the Leopards made a comeback in the fourth inning, taking the game, 9-1. / photo by Chrissy Zehrbach

Joseph Lovallo
Assistant Editor

The University of La Verne’s softball team opened conference action this past weekend sweeping Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in three games, but fell to the University of Redlands in a two-game set on Sunday.

The Leopards headed out to Redlands to make up two of the three games rained out the previous weekend.

The Bulldogs, who finished a game behind La Verne in last year’s conference title run, had redemption in mind as they took both games by scores of 1-0 and 3-0.

A pitching duel between La Verne’s Mary Olson and Redlands’ Lindsay Sutton in the first game kept the match-up scoreless into the ninth inning, until Redlands scored on a base hit from outfielder Erin Short.

In game two, the Leopards were blanked again, as the Bulldog’s Katie Brnca held La Verne to just 3 hits all game. Redlands was led by first baseman AnnMarie Lozano, who went 3-3 at the plate.

Last Friday the Leopards traveled to Claremont and took on the Athenas, starting off Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 9-1 victory.

The Leopards then returned to Wheeler Park on Saturday for a double header against the Athenas, winning both games 3-2 and 9-4.

La Verne’s offense got off to a slow start Saturday in game one, but sophomore pitcher Amanda Jones slowed the Athenas offense recording the win and improving her record to 4-1.

The Leopards got on the board first in a two out rally in the fifth inning.

Freshman designated player Jodi Lindsay hit a home run after sophomore outfielder Morgan Dobis’ single, putting La Verne up 2-0.

CMS answered in the sixth, scoring two of their own and tying the game on Ashley Mitchell’s infield hit.

In the seventh with the score tied 2-2, a wild throw by the Athenas awarded the Leopard base runners an extra base, and junior shortstop Jessica DeGiacomo scored, sealing the 3-2 victory.
Dobis led the Leopards, going 2-for-3 at the plate.

“We hit pretty well,” Dobis said. “We’ll be fine as long as we get a consistent team effort.”

In game two, the Leopards received a solid performance from freshman pitcher Kathleen Salvo and brought their bats to life, defeating CMS.

The Leopards got on the board early when third baseman Kelley Silagyi made it home safely on a double steal attempt in the first inning.

Lindsay reached second on the play, and Jones hit the ball over the center field fence on the next at bat, giving La Verne a 3-0 lead.

Silagyi added a home run in the bottom of the third inning, putting La Verne up 4-0.

Action picked up in the fifth as CMS rallied back, scoring on hits from outfielders Deena Opp and Samantha Pellon, tying the game at 4.

The Leopards countered in the bottom of the inning, as Jones doubled to right field, scoring Ashley Savage and Silagyi.

DeGiacomo followed with a sacrifice bunt which scored Lindsay, and put La Verne up 7-4. Silagyi’s second home run of the day gave the Leopards some insurance as she belted a two-run shot in the sixth to seal the 9-4 victory. Silagyi finished 3-for-4 in the game, and Jones also added a 3-for-4 effort.

“This was a great way to start the conference season, and we did a better job finishing plays today,” Head Coach Robin Haaker said.

“We’ve got to come out fighting to take conference,” Haaker said. “We really have to open our bats and fight for seven innings.”

Senior catcher Amber Guerra also said the team is ready for the rest of the season but must stay focused the whole way through.

“We have to pick up our intensity, and the team has to be into it to win the rest of our conference games,” Guerra said.

The Leopards will continue SCIAC action this weekend, beginning with a three game series with Pomona-Pitzer College.

They face the Sagehens at Wheeler Park today at 3 p.m. followed by a double header Saturday, starting at 12 p.m. in Claremont. They are also slated to make up the third game against Redlands Sunday at Wheeler Park, also at 12 p.m.

Joseph Lovallo can be reached at joe2484@aol.com.

Joseph Lovallo
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