Softball splits with Redlands, Whittier
Campus Times
February 28, 1997
La Verne's softball team played a doubleheader against Whittier last
Saturday. Junior Jaime Anderson had home plate covered when she caught the
Poets Senior Lisa Nunn out. The Leopards won their first game 10-3, and
lost the second 3-2.
After a weekend of splitting doubleheaders with the Whittier Poets and
the Redlands Bulldogs, the 1997 University of La Verne softball team opens
up the season at 2-2.
On Saturday at Whittier, the Leopards, playing with nine new players
and five returners, split a doubleheader with the Poets. In the first game,
La Verne opened up an offensive flurry, led by junior second baseman Lateka
Clayton, who went 3-for-5 with a triple and three RBI.
Senior Loree Grey added to the domination of the Poets by hitting a
double and a triple, recording four RBI. Senior outfielder Kelly Perkins
also contributed to the La Verne offensive attack with a double. ULV pulled
out a 10-3 win, with freshman pitcher Teresa DaValle winning her first game
of the season.
Whittier came back in game two of the doubleheader, scoring a 3-2 victory
for the Leopards. Sophomore infielder/outfielder Angel Mejico was the only
effective Leopard, going 2-for-4 in the game.
"Our defense was very strong. Hitting was the downfall in the games
that we lost," said head coach Julie Kline.
The Leopards opened up SCIAC play with a doubleheader at Redlands on
Friday. The Bulldogs took the first game from the Leopards with a 5-1 win.
Sophomore Lindsey Weber's triple was all the Bulldog defense allowed during
game one.
With a will to win, the Leopards returned the favor to the Bulldogs
in the second game. Grey struck the Bulldogs with a triple and an RBI, and
junior Liz Lomeli contributed with an RBI of her own. With the offense flowing
and freshman pitcher Michelle Geiger on the mound, ULV defeated Redlands,
5-3.
"Hitting is our strength, but we need to work more on execution
with runners on base," said Kline.
The majority of the team is primarily new, with four freshmen; DaValle,
Geiger, infielder Jamie Poole and outfielder/ pitcher Jennifer Thompson.
Kline said,"Our players seem to get along well and they're very
supportive of each other. I do think we still need more confidence as a
team."
La Verne looks to continue to win as they will combat Pomona-Pitzer
at La Verne, at noon tomorrow. On Tuesday, the Leopards face Wartburg College,
from Iowa, at home at 2 p.m.