SAN MARCOS, Calif. — The California Lutheran softball team split a two-game series with St. Katherine's Firebirds as St. Kate defeated CLU, 14-4 in five innings Tuesday, then the Regals bounced back and won the second game, 9-8 Wednesday, at Cardiff Sports Complex.
Cal Lutheran got its first loss of the season before avenging it the next day. They Regals are 3-1 on the season. Freshman pitcher Sienna Perez pitched the second game and moved to 2-0. St. Katherine's dropped to 1-6 overall.
Catherine Slabaugh tallied three RBIs during the two-game stretch. Olivia Leyva tallied two RBIs in the first game, while Abbigael Howard and Antonia Rapisardi both tallied two RBIs in the second game.
In the first game, the Firebirds jumped all over the Regals and scored seven runs in the first two innings.
In the top of the third, CLU got two runs back. With the bases loaded, Slabaugh was hit by a pitch and Rapisardi came in to score. Leyva then grounded out to the second baseman as Perez raced home.
Slabaugh and Leyva each added one more RBI in the top of the 5th. The game wouldn't go any longer then the 5th as St. Katherine's made the score 14-4 after a grand slam.
For game two on Wednesday, Perez was back on the hill. The first inning saw the majority of the scoring. Kendall Marinesi singled as Jacy Watanabe raced home from second. A few plays later, Marines scored after an error by the shortstop. Perez singled scoring two more runs and CLU had a 4-0 lead.
The Firebirds were quick to answer as they scored five runs in the bottom of the inning. Watanabe and Clabaugh each had a RBI in the bottom as Cal Lutheran took back the lead. In the bottom, St Kate's answered again and tied up the score.
The teams both scored twice in the third and the score remained tied, this time at 8. The final run of the game came in the top of the fourth as Abbi Howard singled in Slabaugh for the go ahead run.
Perez pitched three more innings and kept the Firebirds scoreless. Meghan Henry came in for the bottom of the 7th. With the CLU up 9-8, the Regals got the first out before the bases got loaded. Cal Lutheran's defense stepped up and on the next play the Regals got the force out at home. Henry got the Firebirds to ground out for the final play. Perez got the win and Henry was awarded the save.
Cal Lutheran has a little over a week off before they're back in action. The Regals are back on the field Saturday, Feb. 17, at Pomona-Pitzer for a double header at noon and 2 p.m.
Box Score: USK 14, CLU 4 (5 Innings); CLU 9, USK 8
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director