LA VERNE, CA — Danielle Kaminaka secured her first two wins as the University of La Verne's softball team's head coach as the Leopards swept a doubleheader against the Brandeis University Judges.

Senior centerfielder Ashley Rodriguez and senior catcher Alyssa Campbell combined for 10 RBIs on opening day. Rodriguez finished with six RBIs, one home run, one double, five hits, and two runs. Campbell added four RBIs, one home run, three doubles, four hits, and a run.

Game One: La Verne, 7, Brandeis 5

Campbell got the Leopards off to a hot start,  hitting a three-run bomb over the left field fence in the bottom of the first, putting La Verne up early 3-0.

Junior pitcher Briana Vasquez started game one for La Verne while freshman pitcher Jamie Staub entered the circle for the Judges.

The Leopards got their first baserunner of the season when Staub hit senior outfielder Angelina Alderete Staub with a pitch. Senior Sydney Diaz reached on an error by Brandeis senior second baseman Anna Kolb, setting up Campbell's three-run shot.

The Judges gained two back in their half of the third inning off three hits, closing the gap, 3-2. But the Leopards responded quickly in the next half inning, first when sophomore second baseman Julia Miramontes singled through the left side. With two runners on, Rodriguez hit a sac fly, bringing home Miramontes and advancing Alderete, who got on board via a single up the middle. Alderete scored on a wild pitch from Staub, extending the Leopards' lead to 5-2.

Brandeis scored another run in the bottom of the sixth inning when junior outfielder Bells Burdenski singled to center field with freshman outfielder Mary Doud on third.

Senior pitcher Kirsten Sanchez stepped into the circle and got out of the sixth with no more damage done and La Verne still holding a 5-3 lead.

Miramontes and Alderete hit back-to-back singles in the bottom half of the inning and both touched home plate when Rodriguez hit a double to left center, giving the Leopards a comfortable four-run lead, 7-3.

The Judges made things interesting for the Leopards in the seventh, scoring two runs off one hit and one error, but Sanchez secured the victory and gave La Verne their first win of the 2025 season.

Vasquez picked up her first win of the year, pitched five innings, allowed just three runs off six hits, and struck out three batters. Staub took the loss for Brandeis, allowing five runs on seven hits while Sanchez earned the save.

Game Two: La Verne 9, Brandeis 1 (5 innings)

The Leopards' hot hitting continued in game two as La Verne run-ruled the Judges in five innings.

Rodriguez highlighted the game with the Leopards' second three-run home run, again in the first inning.

The Judges got off to a quick lead in the top of the first when sophomore infielder Brooke Boehmer singled to right field, scoring Manes to give her team a 1-0 lead.

But Brandeis' lead did not last long as the Leopards approached for their first plate appearances of the game. Alderete and Diaz started the game with leadoff walks, putting two runners on for Rodriguez, who took her opportunity and ran with it, hitting a no-doubter over the center field fences and regaining the lead for her team, 3-1.

With two runners in scoring position, senior outfielder Cassandra Gilbert singled right back to the circle, and the ricochet off the pitcher brought both runs home and stretched the Leopards' lead to 5-1.

The score held till the bottom of the fourth inning when Rodriguez and Campbell hit consecutive doubles off Brandeis freshman pitcher Claire Warden, adding another run to their lead, 6-1.

Leading by five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, the Leopards only needed to score three more to win the game by run-rule. Freshman infielder Janelle Vega began the inning with a leadoff walk, and Gilbert followed with another single. Staub came back in for the Judges, hoping to hold the score where it was but both runners advanced on her first wild pitch back.

Miramontes added to the lead with a groundout RBI that plated Vega, and then Alderete singled to right field and brought in Gilbert. With the score now 8-1 and two runners on, sophomore catcher Ava Chacon walked to the plate for her first at-bat of the season. She singled through the left side, pulling in Alderete and ending the game via the run rule, 9-1.

Sanchez collected the win for the Leopards, allowing one run on four hits in four innings. Junior pitcher Jaidynn Alvarez stepped in the circle in the top of the fifth inning and pitched a scoreless inning. Vermeulen took the loss for the Judges.

The Leopards are set to return to action on Saturday, March 1st, hosting the George Fox University Bruins in a doubleheader beginning at noon.