In the first-ever Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Postseason Tournament, the seedings proved inaccurate as the #1 and #2 teams fell in the opening rounds of the double elimination tournament. 

The #3 Leopards of the University of La Verne captured a 10-0 victory over #2 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in Friday’s first game.  La Verne tallied 11 hits in a one-error game, scoring 10 runs with 10 RBI.  Leadoff batter shortstop Ashley Paul (Glendora, CA) led the Leos on 3-for-4 batting and scored twice.  Right fielder Melissa Carlson (San Dimas, CA) provided a three-run homer while catcher Jessica Ortega (La Puente, CA) knocked one out for two runs.

In game two, the #4 Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer Colleges nabbed a 4-1 victory over the top-seeded Bulldogs of the University of Redlands.  The Sagehens earned 10 hits to Redlands’ nine but moved the runners more efficiently to score four runs.  First baseman Alexis Garcia (West Covina, CA) led off for Pomona-Pitzer and went 3-for-4 with one RBI as Third baseman Christine Calderon (Hemet, CA) and pitcher Billie McGrane (Collegville, PA) also brought in runs for the Sagehens.  First baseman Lizett Casillas (Pomona, CA) brought in Redlands’ only run on a single in the fourth.

The Bulldogs’ loss pitted them against the Athenas of CMS in game three.  With 10 hits and strong pitching, Redlands rebounded with a 6-0 win over CMS to send the Athenas home.  Redlands pitcher Olivia Ellis (Colfax, CA) threw seven innings with four strikeouts and one walk while scattering three hits for the win.  Casillas led the Bulldogs on 3-for-3 batting and three RBI.  Second baseman Dory Baga (Aiea, HI) also connected on three hits with two RBI.

In the final game of the day, the University of La Verne remained in the driver’s seat by earning a 4-1 victory over Pomona-Pitzer Colleges.  Despite scoring in the bottom of the first, the Sagehens gave up four runs in the top of the fourth as La Verne took the lead and never relinquished it.  The Leopards tallied seven hits to Pomona-Pitzer’s eight but took advantage of two Sagehen errors while Paul provided a two-RBI double in the lucrative inning.

In tomorrow’s 9 a.m. elimination game, the Bulldogs (32-9) face off against Pomona-Pitzer (21-18), with the winner taking on the University of La Verne (26-16) for the championship.  If necessary, a second championship game will take place at 2 p.m.  The champion of the SCIAC Postseason Tournament earns the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.