THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The California Lutheran softball team battled hard, but fell short to the Piedmont College Lions twice, 4-1 and 6-3, as the teams played a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at Hutton Field.

The Regals (5-7) had the lead in both games, but weren't able to hold it as the Lions (7-7) clawed back and escaped with the two wins.  

Cal Lutheran was led by Olivia Leyva as she hit a double and a triple in the two-game series. Four different Regals had a RBI as Lexie Findley, Kendall Marinesi, Sierra Scali and Brittany Workman all came up with big hits.

The Regals had good pitching overall, just a few rough innings as Sienna Perez and Workman both took losses on the day. The defense was also a big part of the close games. In the infield and in the outfield, the Regals showed defense everywhere.

In the first game, CLU struck first in the bottom of the second. Leyva doubled to start the inning. She then stole third as she got closer to scoring. A few batters later, Workman hit a SAC fly to center, scoring Leyva, and the Regals had the lead.

Workman was on the mound as well. She pitched five strong innings and only gave up three hits. She saw the Lions down in order in the third and the fourth.

In the sixth inning, Piedmont finally got to Workman and scored three runs. They added one more in the top of the seventh and won the first game 4-1.

Piedmont picked up in the second game, right where they left off in the first. They capitalized on early hits and had a 1-0 lead after the first inning. They made it a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.

CLU answered in the bottom of the fourth. Leyva got the bats going as she tripled. Marinesi, the next batter up, singled in the first run of the game as Leyva scored.

Catherine Slabaugh then doubled to left field as Marinesi advanced to third. Scali tied the game as she singled in Marinesi. Slabaugh advanced to third on the play.

Findley got her first RBI of the season as she grounded out to second base. Slabaugh rushed home and gave CLU a 3-2 lead.

Just like Piedmont had done in the previous game, the Lions scored three runs in the top of the sixth and one in the top of the seventh. They held on to win game two 6-3.

The Regals remain at home for a non-conference opponent, before they jump back into conference play. CLU hosts Western Connecticut State Monday in a double header at 12:00 and 2 p.m. on Hutton Field.

Box Score: PC 4, CLU 1; PC 6, CLU 3
CLU Instagram: http://instagram.com/clusports#
Sport IG: https://www.instagram.com/regals_softball/  
CLU Twitter: https://twitter.com/clusports
Sport Twitter: https://twitter.com/CLUSoftball   
CLU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clusports
Hashtags: #clusports #ownthethrone #goregals #gokingsmen #theSCIAC #ncaad3

Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director