Riverside, Calif. - The Golden Eagles softball team took three of four games from Benedictine University in their recent Cal Pac series. The team swept the doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, then followed that up with a split in Monday's series finale. La Sierra improved to 4-4 in Cal Pac play and 10-16 overall.
Sunday, April 7
La Sierra def. BENU, 8-7 (8 innings)
Despite giving up a late lead, the Golden Eagles pulled out an extra-innings victory, in walk-off fashion. La Sierra led from the outset, scoring four runs over the first two innings, until the Redhawks cut the lead in half, 4-2, with a pair of runs in the 3rdinning. The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 7-3 heading into the final inning, but the Redhawks scored four runs in the seventh inning, including a 2-out three-run homerun, to tie the score at 7-7, which eventually sent the game into extra innings. But the Golden Eagles were not to be denied as they pushed a run across the plate in the first extra inning to secure the victory.
Taylor Brooks led the team with three hits, while Taylor Ross and Kallie Sorenson each contributed two hits in the victory. Brooks and Ross each tallied one RBI in the win, while Kaylee Quezada drove in two runs with her lone hit of the game. Megan Dalton pitched a scoreless 8thinning to pick up the win.
La Sierra def. BENU, 8-4
After taking an early 2-0 lead, the Redhawks quickly answered back with four runs in the top of the 3rdinning, taking a 4-2 lead in Game 2. But not to be outdone, the Golden Eagles got all those runs back and more, after scoring five runs in the bottom half of the inning, to retake a 7-4 lead in the game. It would be a lead they wouldn't relinquish, as the team held Benedictine scoreless for the final four innings, on their way to the doubleheader sweep.
Four Golden Eagles players finished the game with multiple hits, led by Ashley Ingle who was 2-for-3 with three RBI's, including a homerun. Jenna Murphy also added two hits to go along with two RBI's, while Arianna Rivas and Brooks each finished with two hits of their own. Quezada drove in two more runs, with a 2-run double. Kirsten Hernandez notched the victory, pitching 4 2/3 innings, giving up no runs and just three hits.
Monday, April 8
BENU def. La Sierra, 15-8
After two innings of play, the Redhawks held a 6-1 advantage that they never gave up, on their way to victory. The compiled 23 total hits and overcame five errors to pick up their lone win of the series. Brandi Almaraz and Anysia Gonzalez each finished going 2-for-2, for the Golden Eagles, accounting for four of the team's seven hits. Elizabeth Pena also added a pinch-hit single, driving in a total of two runs.
La Sierra def. BENU, 11-7
After suffering their first loss of the series, the Golden Eagles were able to rebound in order to secure a series victory. The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead, with a run in the 2ndinning, only to give up five runs in the top of the 3rdinning. But once again, the team answered back quickly with four runs in the bottom half of the 3rd, tying the score at 5-5. The team broke the game open with a 6-run 5thinning, which was enough to withstand a late rally by the Redhawks, on their way to the eventual win. Ross led the way with a 3-for-4, 2-RBI game. Jescenda Lopez, Almaraz, and Gonzalez each added two hits in the victory, with Almaraz and Gonzalez also tallying two RBI's in the game. Mariyah Moronez pitched the final 4 1/3 innings to pick up the victory.
The team will play their final home games of the season this coming weekend, when the team welcomes Simpson University on Sunday and Monday.
