CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer softball split with La Verne Saturday afternoon but got the series victory. The Sagehens lost 9-5 in the first game and won 3-0 in the second game at home.
Season Impact: With the win and loss, the Sagehens are 17-11 overall and 6-6 in SCIAC conference play.
Game 1:
Jiselle Nguyen, Kylie Liu, Violet Burnham, Brooke Bullisl, Devin Waddell, and Morgan Groves led the offense for the Sagehens. Nguyen and Liu both went 2-for-4 while Burnham went 2-for-2. Bullis went 1-for-3 with an RBI and Waddell went 1-for-4, hitting her 12th home run of the year. Groves also went deep with a three-run home run herself for her second of the year and went 1-for-4 with three RBIs. Devin Waddell started the game in the circle for the Sagehens but was taken out after two innings pitched. Nyla Springer came in relief for Waddell and picked up the loss (7-3) in the circle after pitching four innings, striking out four batters and allowing six hits.
La Verne came out aggressive, scoring in the top of the first on a single up the middle. The Leopards kept the pressure on in the third inning with four consecutive hits to start the frame. After back-to-back singles loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly made it 4-0, the Leopards on top.
The Sagehens answered big in the bottom of the fourth. Waddell launched a solo homer to center, and after two runners reached base, Groves crushed a three-run homer over the right field fence to tie the game, 4-4.
But La Verne didn't stay quiet for long. The Leopards exploded for five runs in the sixth inning. They piled on the insurance runs to gain a 9-4 lead. The Sagehens pushed across a run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single from Bullis, but it wasn't enough as La Verne closed out the 9-5 win.
Game 2:
No Sagehens had a multi-hit game however Sophia Roberts came in clutch going 1-for-1 with one RBI when her number was called to pinch hit, Devin Waddell went 1-for-2 with a walk, and Kylie Liu went 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
After three scoreless innings, Pomona-Pitzer capitalized on La Verne's defensive miscues in the bottom of the fifth to break the game open. Groves got things going with a one out single to left field, followed by a bunt from Milton that led to an error, putting two runners on. Another error loaded the bases, and that's when Roberts—coming in as a pinch hitter—delivered an RBI single to left to bring home the first run of the game.
With the bases still loaded, Kylie Liu ripped a single down the right field line, plating two more runs to give the Sagehens a 3-0 lead. All three runs in the inning were unearned.
La Verne threatened in the sixth with runners on second and third, but the Sagehens' defense came through with a groundout to end the inning. From there, they shut the door in the top of the seventh to seal the 3-0 win.
Mia Lopez pitched her first complete seven inning game letting in zero runs, striking out one batter, and held the Leopards to six hits. Lopez recorded her first win of the year in the circle.
Up Next: The Sagehens will take on SCIAC opponent Cal Lutheran at home on Friday April 18th. First pitch is scheduled at 3:00 p.m. PT.
