LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Cal Lutheran was on the short end of conference road doubleheader with Occidental falling 6-5 and 6-3. The Tigers scored eight runs over a three inning stretch that spanned over two games to sweep Saturday's games.
Box Score (Game One): OXY 6, CLU 5 - F
Box Score (Game Two): OXY 6, CLU 3 - F
Occidental 6, Cal Lutheran 5 - F
Cal Lutheran starting pitcher Katelyn Downing held Occidental (3-5, 2-2 SCIAC) to just two hits and two unearned runs over her first five innings of work. Meanwhile the Regals had built a 5-2 lead sparked by a three-run second inning rally.
Cal Lutheran drew three full count walks in the frame and two coming with the bases loaded. Kayla Sakamoto's fly ball brought home the third run of the frame as the Regals struck first. A Danika Green RBI-single in the third and an OXY defensive miscue put CLU up three heading into the sixth inning.
Five straight Occidental hitters reached base including back-to-back RBI-singles from Kristine Kocjan and Patricia Phillimeano cutting the deficit to 5-4. Ball four to the next hitter got away and Nicole Hannasch scored the game-tying run advancing home from third base.
Hannasch provided the walk-off dramatics with a one-out, infield single to plate the game-winning run. She was one of six different Tigers to collect a base hit. Teammate Ashley Noone led all players with two runs batted in.
Brittany Labbe collected base hits in each of her first three plate appearances and finished 3-for-4 and scored twice. She provided the Regals lone extra base hit with a third inning leadoff double.
Downing went 5.1 innings giving up three runs (two earned) on just three hits. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate bumping her season average to .444.
OXY pitcher Brittany Vacura went the distance allowing five runs (two earned) while striking out two hitters.
Occidental 6, Cal Lutheran 3 - F
After scoring four runs in the final two innings of game one, the Tigers started out game two with four more in the opening frame. A couple of walks and run-scoring singles with the bases loaded for all four spotted Occidental an early lead.
RBI-singles by Brittany Labbe in the second inning and Ryanna Morua in the seventh, and a run-scoring double by Liz Mertel in the final frame provided the Cal Lutheran scoring. As a team the Regals outhit the Tigers 12-11, with eight of nine hitters in the CLU starting lineup collecting at least one hit.
Moura reached base safely in all four plate appearances and went 3-for-3 at the plate. Labbe and Sara Lichtsinn collected two hits apiece in the loss.
Amber Garland was the second Tigers pitcher on the afternoon to earn a complete game victory. She scattered 12 hits and struck out three while allowing three earned runs.
Cal Lutheran (1-9, 0-4 SCIAC) will host doubleheaders on back-to-back days starting with La Verne on Saturday, Feb. 25.
