California Lutheran University’s Regals softball team (2-7) fell 5-0 in the second game of a doubleheader to the University of Puget Sound Loggers (1-7) Saturday afternoon at Hutton Field. Earlier in the day, however, the Regals took the first of the two games 11-3 in five innings.
Puget Sound used a late offensive run to secure the non-conference victory, breaking a scoreless tie in the fourth inning with a single run before adding four more runs to their lead in the sixth inning. The Loggers finished with eight hits, capitalizing on domination in the last three innings. Cal Lutheran was held to four hits and no runs in this competition.
Sophomore designated player Ava Torre led the Regals offensively, going 2-3 at the plate to record the teams only multi-hit game. Junior third baseman Danielle Diaz added a double for Cal Lutheran’s lone extra-base of the game. Sophomore shortstop Sofia Aviles also recorded a hit and stolen base for Cal Lutheran.
“The way we practice is the way we play,” Torre said. “When it comes to games, it’s just reactionary. That’s what we work on and that’s what we do best.”
Junior outfielder Mia Reveles said the Regals’ approach at the plate was to stick to the basics.
“For hitting, I just want to keep it simple,” Reveles said. “I don’t want to hit home runs, it’ll come. I just want singles. If it comes out as a double, that’s great, but I just want to keep it nice and simple.”
Junior pitcher Ava Tepesano started on the mound for Cal Lutheran, covering 4 innings, allowing three hits and one run while walking two and striking out one. Junior pitcher Mia Cortez entered the game as a reliever, throwing 1.1 innings, allowing three hits and four earned runs with one walk and one strikeout. Sophomore pitcher and infielder Olivia Oegrel closed the game with 1.2 innings as relief.
Head Coach Kecia Davis said moving forward, the focus remains on the coming games throughout the season.
“The one thing is that we learn every day,” Davis said. “We have a very good team. We’re very talented. No one’s perfect, it’s a game of failure, but every time we work hard in practice and come to a game, we’re going to get better.”
Davis also said there are necessary adjustments that need to be made at the plate.
“This pitcher had a good rise ball, and we didn’t adjust well enough to lay off it,” Davis said. “It’s about having good at-bats, good pitch selection and keeping strong. We’re going to be fine.”
According to the official Cal Lutheran box score, this game was played in front of about 75 spectators at Hutton Field.
The Regals now face their attention towards the upcoming week as they prepare to host the University of Redlands Bulldogs in the first game of a three-game conference series beginning on Friday, March 6 at 2 p.m.
This article was updated at 4:21 p.m. on March 3 to correctly attribute statements to Ava Torres and Mia Reveles.
