Lauren Reed
Staff Writer

Following the same pattern as the last two conference games, the Leopards softball team split games with Cal Lutheran this weekend.

The first game became similar to the game against the Claremont Athenas, as the Leopards fell short in the seventh inning of the second game against Cal Lutheran.

It was looking up for the Leopards when they pounced on Claremont, 9-1, in the sixth inning of the first game.

Pitcher Mary Olson threw her fourth complete game and earned her third win in the opener, allowing only one run and five hits while striking out seven batters in the win.

Notable batters for the Leopards included Morgan Dobis who had 3 RBIs in game one. While, second baseman Suzy Riker, third baseman Jessica Smith, and first baseman Lynsey Padilla all contributed two RBI each.

However, the momentum was not taken into the second game though losing 3-2.

Starter Jessica McLaughlin took the hill for the Leopards and pitched six innings in allowing only one run on nine hits.

McLaughlin also struck out three Regals and walked only two while facing 31 batters.

Even though, La Verne took a 2-0 third inning lead, a seventh inning rally by the Athenas tied the game, 2-2, and it stayed that way through the top of the ninth inning.

After a leadoff single, the Athenas scored the game-winning run with one out on a squeeze play taking game two, 3-2, in seven innings.

For the Leopards, Padilla once again came through with 2 RBIs in the last inning after doubling to left field.

McCormick was also part of the seventh inning surge versus Cal Lutheran in the second game.

McCormick and Dobis scored those two runs for the Leopards off of Padilla’s hit.

Those two runs were not enough because the Regals finished the game with three more runs, making the score 3-2.

However, the team was expecting to win game two after easily rolling over the Regals in the first game.

“Going from mercying a team to losing was hard to swallow, but I kept my head up taking my competitive anger into Cal Lu,” said McCormick.

“We all kept our heads up knowing we could’ve done better and our going to take each game one at a time now,” McCormick said.

Other players shared the same sentiment against their weekend split against Cal Lutheran.

“It was devastating to watch our 12-6 win in the first game be joined with a loss,” said first baseman Jodi Lindsay.

“We were the better team and it’s hard to understand why we lost that second game. We just didn’t bring our same ‘A’ game, but I remain believing that nothing will stand in our way of being Regional Champions this year.”

La Verne (5-7, 3-3 SCIAC) will travel now to Florida to take part in the three-day NFCA Leadoff Classic starting Friday.

The Leopards will open the tournament against Moravian (Penn.) Friday at 2:30 p.m. EST.

Many players hope to have a fun, but also successful road trip as they continue on with their season.

“The only things we can do are look forward to the next game and improve on the mistakes we made,” said pitcher Karina Ortiz.

“Florida should be good for team bonding and new breath so when we get back we can destroy everybody in SCIAC.”

After the tournament in Florida, the Leopards will return home for another game away from home against Occidental March 17 before their next home game March 18.

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