LOS ANGELES – On Saturday afternoon, the Lions wrapped up with a 1-1 record, falling to the Santa Clara Broncos in the first game, 14-12, and securing a victory in the second game with a score of 5-2.
Game one:
The first two innings of the softball game were action-packed, seeing a total of 12 hits.
In the opening inning, the Broncos struck first with a homer, tallying two runs. The Lions responded as
Mika Chong's single brought
Arianna Jaurequi home.
Izzy Jamgotchian later scored on an unearned run initiated by
Adele Braun's fielder's choice.
The Lions jumped ahead in the bottom of the first when
Val Pero's nearly-home-run turned into a double, bringing Braun,
Sakora Harvell, and
Jasmine Sofowora across the plate for a 5-2 lead.
In the second inning, the Broncos added four runs, matching the Lions one, as Jaurequi's fielder's choice sent
Hayley Olivas home, leveling the score at 6-6. However, Santa Clara dominated the third and fourth innings, scoring five runs to take an 11-6 lead, prompting
Jenna Perez to relieve
Lindsay O'Dell on the pitching mound for LMU.
The Broncos extended their lead with another home run in the top of the fifth, making it 13-6. In a late-game push, the Lions rallied in the bottom of the inning, with Sofowora's single bringing
Elisa Rosado and Chong home.
Val Pero's fielder's choice added another run, but the Lions still trailed 13-9.
Despite scoring three runs in the seventh inning, the Lions fell short of a comeback, with the Broncos ultimately prevailing 14-12.
Game two:
In the early stages of the softball game, the Lions seized an advantage as Chong's left-field homer put them up by two runs. LMU maintained momentum into the second inning, adding another run courtesy of
Elisa Rosado.
Savannah Hooks maintained a solid defense, preventing the Broncos from scoring in the top of the third.
Entering the fourth inning, the Lions held a 3-0 lead and expanded it when Jamgotchian blasted her seventh season homer, driving in two RBIs. Both teams displayed strong pitching and defense in the fifth inning, resulting in no runs, hits, or errors. The Broncos tried to rally scoring two runs in the sixth inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Lions, who secured a 5-2 victory.
Chong had an impressive performance, tallying two hits, two RBIs, one double, one run, and one homer. Braun stood out with eight putouts, leading both teams.
The series will resume tomorrow with game four scheduled for 12 PM.
