LOS ANGELES — Senior center fielder Ashley Rodriguez hit her fifth home run and freshman Briana Vasquez picked up her fifth win of the season as the University of La Verne softball team split their Saturday doubleheader against the Occidental College Tigers, taking game one 5-1, but dropping game two 6-5 in eight innings.

Game One: La Verne 5, Occidental 1

Rodriguez's two-run blast over the center field fence off Occidental senior starter Zada Day-Adams opened scoring in the top of the first inning.

The Tigers answered back in the next frame, scoring their lone run off one hit and two errors.

La Verne extended their lead in the fourth and seventh innings, highlighted by doubles off the bats of senior outfielder Angelina Alderete and Rodriguez.

Vasquez tossed six innings of one-run ball, only allowing two hits, and striking out two batters. Junior Jaidynn Alvarez pitched a perfect inning in relief and secured the 5-1 win for La Verne.

Game Two: Occidental 6, La Verne 5

The Tigers and Leopards combined for 28 hits in game three of the series. Senior designated player Alyssa Campbell went 4-4 while freshman third baseman Janelle Vega racked up three hits in as many at-bats.

La Verne led the game 5-2 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning but allowed the Tigers to score three runs on three hits, tying the game and sending the match to extra innings.

Unable to score in their half of the frame, the score remained tied at the start of the bottom of the eighth inning, but the Tigers clawed their way back and walked the game off on another three hits, salvaging the final game of the series 6-5.

Senior Kirsten Sanchez started the game, pitching 3.2 innings and giving up one run on five hits, while striking out two batters.

Up Next

The Leopards (14-11 overall, 5-3 conference) will continue SCIAC play this Friday at 3 p.m. when they host the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens at Campus West.