The Golden Eagles softball team split their non-conference doubleheader with No. 11 Hope International University. Royals won the first game by a final of 4-0, but La Sierra answered back in the second game with a 3-2 win. La Sierra's record now sits at 8-9 overall with Cal Pac play just around the corner.
Hope International University (DH)
Game 1 (4-0, L):
With the help of some solid pitching and defense, Hope International took game 1. The Royals scored a run in the 3rd, added two more runs in the 5th inning, and then a run in the 6th for a 4-0 victory.
The Royals outhit La Sierra, 9-5, in game 1. Kindy Favata finished with three hits of her own and a .750 batting average on the game. Elizabeth Pena and Brandi Almaraz each finished with a hit in the loss.
Game 2 (3-2, W):
After scoring three runs in the first inning to take a 3-0 lead, the Golden Eagles were held scoreless over the next six innings. La Sierra took full advantage of an error in the inning, as they scored the three runs on just two hits. But the big hit was a 3-run homerun by junior Elizabeth Pena, who drove the ball down the left field line.
The three runs would prove to be enough as the Golden Eagles were able to withstand a rally in the 4th inning by the Royals, to hang on for the 3-2 victory. Megan Dalton pitched a complete game only allowing the two runs and seven hits.
With the split, La Sierra pushed their record to 7-8 on the season. They carried the momentum into the following series against Puget Sound, taking game 1 with a final score of 9-5, but then dropping game 2, 8-0.
Puget Sound (DH)
Game 1 (9-5, W):
The Loggers got on the board first, but the Golden Eagles answered early scoring eight runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. Almaraz went 2-2 in the first inning with 2 RBIs. Almaraz would go 3-3 in the game. It was a solid team effort that amounted to the 9 runs and 10 hits from the Golden Eagles with seven of the players tallying a hit each.
Game 2 (8-0, L):
La Sierra fell behind early and could not make a come-back in the 8-0 loss against the Loggers. Kelsie Sullivan pitched a shutout for the Loggers only allowing the Golden Eagles offense to get two hits in five innings.
The Golden Eagles will return to the field on Monday, March 9, when they host Arizona Christian University for their next contest.
