LA VERNE, CA – Kileah Lologo hit her first career home run and the Leopards offense surged, scoring 16 runs across two games as the University of La Verne softball team split the series finale doubleheader against Whittier College on Saturday afternoon, winning game one 5-3, before dropping game two 14-11.
Game 1: La Verne 5, Whittier 3
Powered by perfect days at the plate from Lologo and Angelina Ratzlaff, the offense rolled in the win. Lologo went 2-2, driving in three runs including her first career homer as a Leopard in the bottom of the fifth. Ratzlaff matched the offensive surge with a 3-3 performance, adding a run and an RBI of her own to keep the lineup moving throughout the game.
Briana Vasquez entered the circle in the fourth, and slammed the door, helping secure the win. She went 4.0 innings in her outing, allowing just one to cross on four hits while striking out two. Angelina Garcia got the start in the circle for the Leos going 1.2 innings. Senior Jaidynn Alvarez stepped in and pitched 1.1 innings with no hits and no earned runs allowed.
The Poets were the first to score, plating one in the top of the second, before the Leopards answered right back courtesy of an Allie Colenzo double down the left field line scoring Annica Luna.
The offense added another run in the fourth inning. Ratzlaff singled through the left side to drive in Aries Alonso. The momentum continued in the fifth inning thanks to a powerful swing from Lologo, who launched a solo home run to left-center field to extend the lead.
Lologo wasn't finished at the plate. In the sixth inning, she came through again with a single to center field that plated both Kylee Knight and Ratzlaff, adding two insurance runs and putting the game further out of reach.
Vasquez picked up the win, moving to 5-3 while Whittier starter Mariah Zapata collected her second loss of the season.
Game 2: Whittier 14, La Verne 11
Despite combining for 25 runs, the Leos couldn't outlast the Poets in a three hour marathon and dropped game two 14-11.
It was a big offensive night powered by several players with key performances at the plate. Knight led the way, going 3-4 with four RBIs and a run scored, driving in crucial runs throughout the game. Colenzo added another strong performance, finishing 2-4 with three RBIs and two runs.
Alonso contributed with three hits and two runs, while
Brooke Petretti scored two runs and added a hit. Luna also played a key role in the scoring effort, crossing the plate three times as the offense consistently produced throughout the game.
The offense put together a productive night, capitalizing on key hits and defensive miscues to build momentum throughout the game. The scoring began in the first inning when
Alexis Keifer reached on a catcher's error that allowed Knight to score the game's first run.
In the second inning, Luna reached on a second baseman's error that brought home Petretti, before Colenzo followed with an RBI single to score Alonso. Later in the inning, Knight delivered a single up the middle that plated both Colenzo and Luna.
The bats stayed hot in the third as Colenzo doubled to left to drive in Alonso and Petretti, while Luna later scored on a ground out by
Angelina Ratzlaff. A sacrifice fly from Knight brought Colenzo home to extend the lead.
The offense added two more in the fifth when Ratzlaff reached on a shortstop error that scored Luna, and Knight capped the scoring with a double to right-center that drove in Ratzlaff.
The pitching staff worked through a challenging game in the circle as four pitchers saw action. Vasquez started and recorded two outs, allowing one hit and two runs, though neither was earned.
Alyssa Tafolla provided the longest outing of the game, tossing 3.2 innings while striking out three and surrendering six hits and five runs, four of which were earned.
Jaidynn Alvarez followed with 1.2 innings, giving up three hits and four runs, including three earned.
Angelina Garcia finished the game with an inning of work, allowing three hits and three runs. Garcia gets the tough loss moving to 0-3, while Natalia Morfin gets her first win this year.
Next Game
The Leopards have the week off before opening a midweek nonconference doubleheader against University of Minnesota Morris on Tuesday, March 17 at 1 p.m.
