LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU softball continued their strong opening weekend with a convincing 7-3 win over Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon at Smith Field. The Lions pounded out 14 hits, struck early, and never trailed as they improved to 3-1 on the season.

LMU opened the scoring in the first inning when Izzy Jamgotchian absolutely launched a solo home run to deep left, setting the tone for an explosive offensive outing. The Lions then broke the game open in the second with a four-run surge highlighted by aggressive baserunning, clean execution, and well-placed contact.

Justine Lambert started the rally with a leadoff single before stealing second, and Rubi Lopez followed with an RBI single to bring her home. From there, LMU capitalized on consecutive hits and Northern Colorado miscues: Mya Allen dropped down a bunt single, Avery Francis added an RBI knock, and Sakora Harvell pushed across another run with a bunt single that turned into extra bases on an errant throw. By the end of the inning, LMU had taken full control with a 5-0 lead.

Northern Colorado chipped back with single runs in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, but each time LMU had an answer. Offensively, Lopez finished with a pair of hits in a standout game, Allen added two more of her own, and Taelor Walker collected two hits including a late RBI double in the sixth.

In the circle, Sara Pinedo earned her first win of the season, tossing 4.1 innings of one-hit ball while striking out five. Jessie Gilbert provided middle relief before Lindsay O'Dell closed the door with a composed 1.1-inning save, allowing just one hit and striking out one to seal the win.

The Lions' balanced attack, 14 hits from nine different players, paired with three pitchers contributing valuable innings.

Up next, LMU will close out Opening Weekend tomorrow, Sunday, February 8, with a two-game slate at Smith Field. The Lions will take on Utah Tech at 10:00 AM before wrapping the weekend with a 3:00 PM matchup against UC Santa Barbara.