CLAREMONT, CA – Liz Rodarte hit a three-run walk-off home run and the Pomona-Pitzer Softball team won in dramatic fashion, beating the Pacific Lutheran Lutes 5-4 on opening day.

Season Impact: The Sagehens start the season 1-1 after dropping the first game of the day to the Lutes.

Trailing 4-2 with pinch runner Kendal Kipper on second and Sofia Baig at third, Rodarte crushed a pitch and sent it over the center field fence to give the Sagehens the walk-off win.

"I just knew it was out there in left field I didn't know it was going over," said Rodarte. "I was just trying to keep it low, get the runners over, but it ended up going over the fence."

Heading into the bottom of the seventh inning trailing 4-1, the Sagehens needed a rally to keep the hopes of an opening day win alive. Kristen Hong and Baig each singled to start the inning. Bianca Cockrell, who had been making solid contact all game, doubled to deep right field, bringing home Hong and setting up Rodarte's game winner. 

The Sagehens took the first lead of the game in the bottom of the sixth off a single from Natalie Ireland that scored freshman Izzy Deatherage.

Deatherage, Marya Ornelas, and Haylee Sindt each added a hit in the game. Sam Carlson finished the game with two hits. 

Alondra Reynoso made her collegiate debut in the circle, going the distance and striking out three in her first career win.

Game One: Pacific Lutheran 9, Pomona-Pitzer 0

Six different Sagehens recorded hits and Rodarte went the distance in the circle, but Pomona-Pitzer couldn't get any runners across the plate, dropping their season opener 9-0.

After three scoreless innings the Lutes got on the board in the top of the fourth inning off a two run double by Samantha Simundson. The Lutes added another run in the fifth and two in the sixth before putting the game away with a four run seventh inning.

Emily Rockhill, Hong, Cockrell, Carlson, Ornelas, and Rodarte each recorded a hit. Rodarte finished the game with four strikeouts. 

Next Game: The Sagehens host the University of Puget Sound in a doubleheader Friday, February 10 beginning at 12:30 p.m.