LOS ANGELES– The Loyola Marymount University softball team (21-10) took two tough losses in a double header with the South Dakota Jackrabbits, losing  game one of the double header 11-1, in six innings, and then fighting in game two but falling short, 5-4, in nine innings.
 
The Lions were not able to get going at the plate in the first game of the doubleheader with the Jackrabbits.   
 
In the bottom of the first inning, Sydney Poole hit a single to the shortstop, beating out the throw to get on base for the Lions. Andrea Gonzalez would then hit a single down the right side, to advance Poole to second. However, the Lions were not able to get a run out of this sequence.
 
The game was jam tight through the first three innings, before the Jackrabbits started pulling away. In the top of the fourth inning, Jackrabbits were able to score three runs and then continued their momentum from there.
 
The Lions were not able to get a hit or a run after the first inning, until the bottom of the sixth. With the score, 11-0, headed into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lions begin getting some clutch hits, getting runners on base in effort to erase the eight-run mercy rule that was approaching them.  
 
Sydney Poole started the inning off, hitting a single up the middle, which would be followed up by a single from Gonzalez again down the right side.
 
With two runners on base, Morgan DeBord would drive a single through the shortstop, generating a fielding error by the Jackrabbits that allowed Poole to score a run for the Lions.  
 
Unfortunately, the Lions were unable to continue the inning as they would hit two pop up fly outs to end the game in the sixth inning.
 
The Lions finished the game with five total hits to the Jackrabbits, twelve hits. Sydney Poole finished two for three at the plate, while also scoring the Lions only run of the game. Andrea Gonzalez also went two for three at the plate, while Morgan DeBord finished one for two.
 
Jenna Perez moves to 8-4 on the season, pitching 3.2 innings, allowing five hits and three runs while producing five strikeouts. Logan Caymol pitched 0.2 innings, allowing two hits and four runs. Paulina Johnson finished the game in the circle for the Lions, allowing five hits and four runs.
 
In Game 2, the Jackrabbits looked to continue their performance in the first game by starting off the second match with an RBI single in the bottom of the first inning.
 
The Lions were able to respond in the bottom of the third inning, after holding the Jackrabbits to just one run and three hits in the first three innings.
 
Georgia Blair hit a solo home run to left field, which tied the game, 1-1. In the same inning, Alyssa Daniell hit a single to right field to get another runner on base for the Lions. In the same inning, Andrea Gonzalez was able to hit a single up the middle to advance Daniell to third base, which she would end up scoring off a wild pitch to take the lead, 2-1.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, the Jackrabbits responded again, scoring two runs off a double and a single to take the lead again, 3-2.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, they would score again off an RBI double to center field, to increase the lead to, 4-2. However, the Lions came right back as Val Pero hit an RBI double down left field line in the bottom of the fifth inning, bringing in Sydney Poole to decrease the lead, 4-3, for the Lions.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lions were able to tie the game with a hit from Alyssa Daniell, which brought in Megan Dedrick to make the score, 4-4.
 
With the score tied, 4-4, the Lions and Jackrabbits went into inning 9 with no runs, before the Jackrabbits hit an RBI single to left field to give them the game winning run. The Lions were not able to respond effectively, as they did get a chance with a runner on base.

The Lions finished the game at the plate with eight total hits, compared to the Jackrabbits ten. Georgia Blair went two for four at the plate, hitting another home run on the season, while netting an RBI. Val Pero went two for five at the plate, also collecting an RBI.  

Jenna Perez is now 8-5, as she pitched 4.20 innings, allowing two hits and one run, while producing four strikeouts. Savannah Hooks got the start, pitching 4.2 innings while allowing seven hits and four runs.  Jessica Hubbard pitched 0.1 innings, allowing one hit and no runs.
 
Game 2 marks LMU's first ever, home night softball game in school history. The Lions will continue their home stand with another game on Tuesday, Mar. 22 against the  Cal Baptist Lancers, as first pitch is set for 2:00 p.m. PST.