FULLERTON– The Loyola Marymount University softball team (8-8) swept the first day of the Judi Garman Softball Tournament, defeating the Cal Poly Mustangs, 7-3, and coming right back to beat the Kansas Jayhawks, 7-6.
 
The Lions were in a tight match with the Mustangs in the first three innings of the game, not scoring one run on either sides. 
 
Headed into the bottom of the third inning, 0-0, the Lions were determined to get runs on the board, Val Pero was able to hit a 2 RBI single to left center field, as Morgan DeBord and Sydney Poole both scored.
 
A few batters later in the same inning, Georgia Blair drove a single up the middle allowing Madalie Gomez to score giving the Lions a 3-0 lead.
 
Val Pero would return to the plate in the bottom of the fourth inning to deliver a 2 RBI double, bringing in DeBord and Andrea Gonzalez.
 
The Lions held an 5-0 lead through the fifth inning. The Mustangs did respond in the top of the sixth inning, nailing a 3 RBI home run to cut the lead down to two runs.
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lions came right back with another 2 RBI double from Arianna Jaurequi, as the Lions were able to close out the game in the top of the seventh inning to complete the game.

The Lions finished the game with ten total hits to the Mustangs, four hits. Val Pero went 3-3 at the plate with 4 RBIs and one run. Andrea Gonzalez finished 2-3 at the plate, scoring two of the Lions seven runs. Sydney Poole went 2-4 for LMU, scoring one run.

Paulina Johnson moves o 2-1 on the season, pitching 7.0 innings while allowing four hits and three runs, producing four strikeouts. 
 
In Game 2 against the Kansas Jayhawks, the Lions were in a fight but started off on a great note.
 
The Jayhawks scored the first run of the game off an RBI single in the top of the second inning. However, the Lions were able to respond aggressively in the bottom of the inning.
 
Arianna Jaurequi hit a home run to tie the game for the Lions but that was enough for the talented group. Megan Dedrick and Val Pero both hit 2 RBI singles for LMU to increase the lead.
 
Jasmine Sofowora would continue the Lions run in the second inning with an RBI single up the middle to give LMU a 6-1 lead over the Jayhawks.
 
The Lions held the Jayhawks to no runs through the next three innings, as Andrea Gonzalez hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning, allowing Sydney Poole to score another run for the Lions to make the score, 7-1.

Top of the six inning the Jayhawks made a solid attempt to come back scoring five runs in the inning but could not hold the Lions off from the victory.
 
The Lions finished the game at the plate with eleven total hits, compared to the Mustangs ten. Arianna Jaurequi went 2-3 at the plate, hitting a solo home run. Jasmine Sofowora went 2-3 at the plate, scoring a run as well. Sydney Poole and Megan Dedrick went 2-3 at the plate as well, as it was an excellent batting performance for the Lions.   

Savannah Hooks moves to 2-3 on the season, pitching 6.2 innings while allowing nine hits and six runs. Paulina Johnson came back in to pitch for the Lions in the second game, pitching 0.1 innings and allowing one hit and no runs.   
 
The Lions will continue competing in the Judi Garman Classic, as they will face Texas A&M on Friday, Mar. 4. The game is set to start at 5:30 p.m. PST.