LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University softball team swept UNLV in its two-game series on Saturday, as the Lions shutout the Rebels 2-0 in the first game, and then won 3-1 in a walk-off in the second game.
The Lions opened up their game with an honorary first pitch from
Alessandra Samperio's mom, Rose Buscemi, as a tribute to her continued fight against cancer.
Both teams went quietly in the first two innings.
Alyssa Daniell made noise in the bottom of the third after she singled, and then crossed the plate after a sacrifice fly from
Desiree Moreno.
Up 1-0, it wasn't until the bottom of the sixth when the Lions put another run on the board after
Peyton Angulo singled.
Kat Hummer came in to pinch run, and then made it home after
Molly Grumbo singled, to give the Lions a 2-0 lead.
The Rebels weren't able to score any runs in the top of the seventh, handing the Lions their fourth shutout of the season.
The Lions had seven total hits, compared to the Rebels' two. Grumbo went 2-3 at the plate, while
Taylor Keinath and
Alyssa Daniell went 1-2.
Samperio picked up her second win of the season, as she pitched 5.1 innings, allowing two hits, zero runs and had two strikeouts. Marina Vitalch came in for her second save of the season, pitching 1.2 innings allowing zero hits, zero runs and collected three strikeouts.
Up 1-0 on the day, the Lions continued their momentum into the second game. The Rebels put the first run on the board in the top of the first, but the Lions responded in the bottom of the fourth, after
Page Mindedahl, who came in to pinch run for Angulo, scored after Grumbo singled.
Tied at 1-1 for the remainder of the game, the teams forced extra innings. With Garcia placed on second,
Andrea Gonzalez hit a homerun, to win 3-1 in a walk-off.
The Lions had seven total hits, while UNLV had three. Gonzalez went 2-4 at the plate, while Grumbo went 1-2.
Vitalch (5-2) pitched 8.0 innings, allowing just three hits, one run and 10 total strikeouts.
The Lions will conclude their weekend at Long Beach State, as the team will play the Dirtbags in a double-header.
