LA VERNE, Calif. - After earning a pair of come-from-behind victories on Friday afternoon at home, Cal Lutheran softball continued its winning ways early on Saturday with a 1-0 game one victory before falling to La Verne in the series finale, 8-0, to earn a split.
Box Score (Game 1): CLU 1, ULV 0 - F
Box Score (Game 2): ULV 8, CLU 0 - F/6
In a low scoring, errorless ballgame to open the afternoon, the Regals scored the lone run of game one in the third inning. Kayla Sakamoto drew a leadoff walk and Kathleen Watson-Otani punched a single to left. After Katelyn Downing executed a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up, Shannon Tinsley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brittany Labbe grounded out to second base, but earned the RBI as Sakamoto crossed the plate.
ULV outhit CLU five to three, but the Regals drew seven walks and put two runners on base after being hit by pitches. Cal Lutheran had numerous opportunities to add to their lead but left 11players on base, eight in scoring position.
Sarah Lichtsinn had the only extra base hit of the game, doubling to lead off the sixth.
Shonna Christianson earned her second win of the season from the circle after tossing a complete game. She struck out one, looking, and scattered five hits over 7.0 innings. She got out of bases loaded situation in the fourth, forcing a pop-up and a line-drive to end the Leopards threat.
The defense stepped up behind their starter. Sakamoto had four putouts in centerfield and Watson-Otani had three in right. Lichtsinn had five putouts at second and Liz Mertel finished with four assists at third.
Rebecca Ho was tagged with the loss after going 4.0 innings for the Leos and walking six.
In game two it was the home squad that struck first and controlled the contest. La Verne plated a pair in the second and added a third run in the third. In the sixth things fell apart for the Regals as they were tagged for five runs on four hits, with a hit batter and a fielding error. ULV reached the eight-run mark to end the contest early.
Laura Olson went the distance and earned the win for La Verne (16-14, 8-10 SCIAC), limiting the Regals to just three hits. Mertel, Downing and Ryanna Morua each singled.
Downing, who started the game, got the loss although Nicolby Atallah and Christianson each took the ball as well. ULV collected 13 hits in the game.
For CLU, overall on the day six different players had a hit. Sakamoto and Downing each stole a base today. Morua finished the double header with four putouts and three assists at shortstop without an error. Mertel touched the ball seven times, recording one putout with six assists.
La Verne was led by Dee Dee Burns who was 4-for-7 in the games and Raven Freret was 3-for-7.
Cal Lutheran (11-23, 4-14 SCIAC) returns to the friendly confines of Hutton Field for the final six games of the spring. The Regals will begin their home stand on Friday, April 13 by hosting Whittier for a pair beginning at 2:00 p.m.
