PALM SPRINGS– The Loyola Marymount University softball team (6-8) won two straight on the third day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, beat the Southern Utah Thunderbirds, 11-5, and the UC Riverside Highlanders, 2-0, to bring their overall record to 8-8 on the season.
The Lions shot out of the gate against the Thunderbirds early in the bottom of the first inning as
Morgan DeBord hit an RBI double to right center field allowing
Sydney Poole to score the Lions first run, giving them a 1-0 lead.
LMU would take their momentum into the second inning, as they scored six runs after
Sydney Poole hit a line drive single to the shortstop bringing in two runs, and the DeBord capping the inning off with another home run on the season.
Sierra Marshall would use her sharp eye at the plate to advance to first on a walk, while the Lions already had full bases. LMU left the bottom of the second inning scoring six runs off two hits, giving them a 7-0 lead over the Thunderbirds.
The Thunderbirds would respond in the top of the third inning, hitting a 2 RBI homerun to decrease the lead to, 7-2. They would then come back in the top of the fourth and score off an RBI double to center field.
Entering the bottom of the fifth inning with the score, 7-4, the Lions were not letting up as
Sydney Poole used her excellent basing run skills to steal from third base to give the Lions their eighth run of the day.
The Thunderbirds did not give up after being down by six, they were able to squeeze two runs in off s RBI single and a Lions fielding error in the top of the sixth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, LMU kicked into another gear as
Alyssa Daniell hit a 2 RBI single to right center field as
Jasmine Sofowora and
Megan Dedrick scored increasing the lead to, 10-5. After another walk on full bases, the Lions close the game out.
The Lions finished the game with fifteen total hits to the Thunderbirds, six hits.
Sydney Poole led the charge batting 100% at the plate with five hits, three runs, and one RBI.
Alyssa Daniell and
Morgan DeBord both went 2-4 at the plate, while Megan hit her fifth home run of the season, while producing five RBIs and scoring one run.
Jessica Hubbard moves o 2-0 on the season, pitching 4.0 innings while allowing three hits and three runs, producing five strikeouts.
Paulina Johnson was the relief, pitching 3.0 innings while allowing three hits and two runs.
In Game 2 against the UC Riverside Highlanders, the Lions were in a fight all game but pulled through once again.
In the bottom of the second iinning,
Jasmine Sofowora hit an RBI sacrifice ground out,
Arianna Jaurequi scored the Lions first run the of the game.
The Lions held the Highlanders to just one hit in the first three innings and no runs.
Jasmine Sofowora came up strong for the Lions once again in this game, stealing third causing a fielding error, which brought her in to increase the lead to, 2-0.
Jenna Perez would come in to pitch a three-inning shutout to seal the deal for the Lions.
The Lions finished the game at the plate with five total hits, compared to the Highlanders two.
Jasmine Sofowora went 1-2 at the plate, nailing an RBI and scoring a run from excellent base running for the Lions only two scores.
Savannah Hooks gets her first collegiate win for the Lions as she moves to 1-2 on the season, pitching 4.0 innings while allowing two hits and no runs.
Jenna Perez got the save pitching a 3.0 inning shutout to finish the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
The Lions will compete in the Judi Garman Classic, as they will travel to Fullerton, Calif. on Mar. 3 for another 5-game series. They will play their first match against Caly Poly on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. PST.
