LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne softball team battled with No. 7 Linfield, but couldn't overcome a late rally by the Wildcats, falling 18-6 Sunday afternoon.

Kylee Knight played a great game offensively, going 3-4 with two runs. Janelle Vega drove in two runs.

The Leopards took the opening lead in the first after Allie Colenzo reached with a double to right, advanced on an infield single from Knight, and scored on a groundout RBI by Alonso.

After the Wildcats took a 2-1 lead at the top of the second, the Leopards quickly regained the advantage when Vega tripled down the right field line, sending Victoria Garza and Annica Luna home.

Brooke Petretti extended the Leopards' lead in the third when she doubled down the left field line to bring in Knight. Two batters later, Ava Chacon singled in Petretti to put the Leopards' edge at 5-2.

The Wildcats responded in the fifth, when they evened the score with a three-run inning highlighted by a solo home run from Emily Foytack. 

Linfield gifted La Verne back the lead in the bottom of the third when Angelina Ratzlaff reached on a fielding error by the second baseman that allowed Knight to score from second and put the Leopards up 6-5. 

Kya Lindell sparked a five-run inning for the Wildcats in the sixth when she hit a two-RBI single down the left field line to give Linfield the lead for good as the Wildcats' offense surged in the final two innings.

Game One: Linfield 9, La Verne 1

The Leopards couldn't overcome two home runs and six RBIs from Ashlyn Aven and dropped game one of the doubleheader.

La Verne plated both its runs in the fourth inning thanks to three-straight singles. Aries Alonso led off with a single through the right side. Sofia Carillo jumped in to pinch run and scored after Petretti reached on an infield, bunt single, and a throwing error allowed both runners to advance. Ratzlaff kept the rally going with a single up the middle that plated Petrerri and brought the score to 6-2. 

Aven opened the scoring for the Wildcats in the third with a three-run shot to right, which proved to be enough to secure the win.

Alonso and Ratzlaff finished with two hits apiece. 

Brianna Vasquez struck out three in 5.1 innings of work. Jaidynnn Alvarez closed the game for La Verne.

Season Impact

The No. 7 Wildcats improve to 18-2 overall, and La Verne moves to 9-12.

Next Game

The Leopards continue nonconference action on Saturday, March 28, with a 12 p.m. doubleheader against Elmhurst.