LA VERNE, Calif. - Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play got underway for Cal Lutheran softball this afternoon despite a pair of tough losses, 5-4 and 8-0 in five innings, to La Verne.

LV def. CLU 5-4
Trailing 4-0, Cal Lutheran rallied with a four-run top of the sixth inning, but a single run in the bottom of the frame was the difference. Amanda Lewis drew a leadoff walk before Blake Lewis lifted a two-run homerun to centerfield, cutting the deficit in half. Abbigael Howard and Hannah Brown both scurried across the plate on LV miscues to knot things at 4-4. Overall, CLU collected just five hits from as many different players. Courtney Sooy (2-2) scattered eight hits and allowed just two earned runs.

LV def. CLU 8-0 (5 innings)
The second game, unfortunately, was lopsided as CLU was on the wrong end of a near perfect five inning affair by Leopards pitcher Hayley Jaques (1-0). Cal Lutheran kept La Verne at bay for the first three innings, but a seven run fourth and a single run in the fifth ended the contest. Nicole White-Madolora (2-2) tossed a complete game allowing nine hits and five earned runs. Jaques hit Howard with a pitch to start the third, but she was stranded as the next three batters were retired in order.

Notables: Brittany Reed made her CLU debut as a pinch hitter in game one and Monique Ramirez made hers as the third baseman of game two.

Up Next: Cal Lutheran (4-4, 0-2 SCIAC) returns to Hutton Field for a single non-conference game against Brandeis (Mass.) on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 1:30 p.m.

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