PALM SPRINGS, CA – The Lions capped off the final day of the Mary Nutter Invitational with a pair of victories, edging out the Hawai'i Rainbow Wahine, 5-4, and defeating the Howard Bison, 10-2. They wrapped up the tournament with a 3-2 record.
Game 1:
The game started with Hawaii getting two runners on base, but
Jessica Hubbard kept her composure, striking out two batters and keeping the game scoreless for the Rainbow Wahine.
The Lions were also scoreless in the first two innings not getting any hits either.
The game got going in the third, when Hawaii earned a two-run single to take the lead, 2-0.
The Lions responded in the fourth inning with a much-needed spark when
Izzy Jamgotchian launched a solo home run, cutting the deficit to one. LMU continued to add to the score in the bottom of the fifth when
Sydney Poole singled bringing
Analiah Lummus back home tyting the score at 2-2.
Hawaii extended their lead in the sixth, bringing in two more runs and pushing the score to 4-1. LMU made a pitching change, bringing in Lindsey O'Dell, who shut the door on any further scoring threat.
In the bottom half of the sixth, the Lions showed their resilience.
Arianna Jaurequi led off with a solo homer, bringing the Lions within two runs.
The Lions never gave up and scored two more runs in the final inning thanks to Jamgotchian bringing in Poole and
Mika Chong bringing in
Meeya Johnson. LMU would win the game by one, 5-4.
Game 2:
LMU found itself in an early 1-0 hole after Howard struck first in the bottom of the first inning. However, the Lions roared back in the third, stringing together five hits, including Jaurequi's home run that cleared the bases and put the Lions up 4-1.
A few plays later,
Sakora Harvell added to the lead with an RBI groundout before
Kealani Caster's double added another run, making it 6-1.
Caster continued to show out in the fifth inning launching a solo homer to extend LMU's lead. Johnson kept the momentum going with an RBI to bring home Lummus, pushing the advantage to 8-1.
After the Bisons got another run in the bottom of the fifth, the Lions responded in the sixth when Chong delivered the final blow, sending a two-run homer and sealing the win.
The Lions next game is on Feb. 26 at 5 PM at Smith Field, against the No. 10 Arizona Wildcats.