SportsSoftball

Leopards split pair with Cal Lu

La Verne played doubleheaders against Occidental April 21 and Cal Lutheran April 22. Leopard pitcher Jessica McLaughlin only allowed one hit in the sixth inning against Cal Lutheran. La Verne swept Occidental, winning both games, 19-0 and 9-1, due to the mercy rule. After losing the first game to Cal Lutheran, 4-3, La Verne came back in the second game, 5-4, bringing its overall record to 20-16. La Verne will play away at Whittier today. / photo by Rhiannon Mim
La Verne played doubleheaders against Occidental April 21 and Cal Lutheran April 22. Leopard pitcher Jessica McLaughlin only allowed one hit in the sixth inning against Cal Lutheran. La Verne swept Occidental, winning both games, 19-0 and 9-1, due to the mercy rule. After losing the first game to Cal Lutheran, 4-3, La Verne came back in the second game, 5-4, bringing its overall record to 20-16. La Verne will play away at Whittier today. / photo by Rhiannon Mim

Lauren Reed
Staff Writer

After taking both ends of a doubleheader from the Occidental Tigers on Saturday (19-0 and 9-1), the Leopards softball team remained upbeat about its senior farewell game, which came at its last home game, a doubleheader against the Cal Lutheran Regals on Sunday.

Getting off to a rocky start, the Leopards fell short in the first game, 4-3.

Not letting that affect them, they came back and rallied in the second game, taking the game into nine innings and eventually winning when catcher Debbie Bugarin hit an RBI single, driving in outfielder Stephanie Garcia.

“We hung in there, fought hard and remained united as a team that’s what got us our victory,” said first baseman Jodi Lindsay.

The whole game proved to be as exciting as its finish.

In the beginning of the second inning, Cal Lu got on the scoreboard with a lead off home run.

Infielder Lindsay Padilla, who led off the second inning for the Leopards, answered the call and hit a home run of her own, making the game an even score of 1-1.

“A lot of people stepped up today, which was essential because we needed that win,” said junior infielder/outfielder Trisha McCormick, who is currently out with a stress fracture.

“We weren’t going to let Cal Lu get away with another win on our senior game and last home game.”

In the fourth inning, both teams scored, leaving the game tied at 2-2.

The Leopards then capitalized on an error by Cal Lutheran shortstop Susie Nicoll, which led to outfielder Melissa Carlson scoring for the Leopards.

After a bloop single and fielder’s choice, Cal Lu struck back in the top of the fifth inning with consecutive runs, making the score 4-2.

In the sixth inning, pitcher Kelly Ince replaced starter Jessica McLaughlin to finish the game.

Outfielder Morgan Dobis drove in first baseman Jodi Lindsay with a long double off the fence, making the score 4-3.

This inning also proved to be pivotal for the Leopards as they made their comeback.

Padilla again stepped up to lead the Leopards with a single that drove in Dobis to tie up the game.

The Leopards fought hard until the very end, which was the ninth inning when Bugarin hit her single winning the game, 5-4.

“We knew as long as we stayed focused we would make every play count and we would walk away with a ‘W’,” said pitcher Karina Ortiz.

The Leopards hope to take the momentum from this win to today’s game at Whittier and Saturday’s match up at Pomona-Pitzer, which will be the final two games of the regular season.

Lauren Reed can be reached at lreed@ulv.edu.

Lauren Reed
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Rhiannon Mim, Photography Editor
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