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Delaney Baylor pitched a complete game five-hitter in Game 2La Verne Salvages Split With Poets
The University of La Verne softball team remained at the .500 mark for the season after splitting a doubleheader with Whittier College at Wheeler Park on Tuesday. The Leopards dropped an 11-6 verdict in Game 1 before rallying to top the Poets 4-3 in the nightcap.
The Poets were in control much of the opener, building a 4-0 lead after two innings en route to a 5-2 advantage through the fourth frame. The Leopards would strike for three runs on four hits to tie the contest as back-to-back doubles from Kailee Munden and Dee Dee Burns along with a Whittier throwing error produced the three runs to get La Verne even at 5-5.
The game remained tied until the seventh inning when the Poets posted six runs aided by a Janae Townsend grand slam to take an 11-5 lead. A Mandy Brenner RBI single in the bottom of the seventh closed the gap but wouldn't be enough as Whittier claimed the opener by an 11-6 margin.
In addition to Townsend's grand slam, the Poets also got solo homers from Amanda Carrasco and Jennifer Luders in the victory. All told, Whittier collected 17 hits in the game. Heather Dady pitched a complete game for the Poets despite yielding 10 hits.
Burns, Brenner and Ashley Paul each went 2-4 at the plate for the Leopards in the defeat.
La Verne (6-6, 3-3 SCIAC) trailed 1-0 in the second game after a Luders homer in the top of the second put Whittier on the board. The Leos responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame when Melissa Carlson hit a 2-run double that scored Alicia Wong and Lissa Ishihara to take a 2-1 lead.
Whittier (7-6, 3-3 SCIAC) answered with two runs in the top of the fourth to reclaim the lead at 3-2 on a Brenda Thompson single and a bases loaded walk to Molly Yriarte.
The Leopards went ahead to stay in the bottom of the fifth when a 2-run double by Burns drove in Carlson and Paul to lead 4-3.
Delaney Baylor set down the Poets in order in the sixth and seventh innings to post a complete game victory and earn her third win of the season. Baylor yielded 5 hits in her seven innings of work. Carlson went 2-3 with 2 RBI and a run scored.
The Leopards travel to Pamana City, Florida to compete in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. La Verne opens action Friday against Willamette University.
Game 1: WC 11, LV 6
Game 2: LV 4, WC 3
