Box Score

SAN DIEGO, Calif. â€" The USD softball team (15-25, 1-4) split their doubleheader with LMU Saturday, notching their first WCC win of the season. Megan Sabbatini tossed a four hit shutout in the first game with Lauren Kane providing the offense as the Toreros won 5-0. In game two, the Toreros had ten hits but fell to LMU 5-3.

SAN DIEGO 5, LMU 0

After struggling last weekend, the Torero bats wasted no time Saturday, scoring two runs on four hits in the first inning. Olivia Sandusky led off the first with a double to right field and was then sacrificed to third on a Taylor Spence bunt. Kailey Hill then knocked Sandusky home with a single to left. Lauren Kane and Tatum Schultz followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Danielle Mavridis was hit by a pitch to bring home Hill and give USD a 2-0.

The Lions threatened in the top of the second with runners on first and third, but Megan Sabbatini got out of the jam by striking out Nicole Clowdus.

The Toreros extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second. With two runners on, Lauren Kane blasted a home run to dead centerfield. Kane, who hit home runs in back-to-back games, has a team-high seven bombs, which are the second most in program history for a freshman (Kailey Hill; 12 in 2015).

That would be all the offense the Toreros needed as Megan Sabbatini shut down the Lions' league-leading offense. Sabbatini (8-14) tossed her second shutout of the season, allowing just four hits while striking out six and walking none.

LMU 5, SAN DIEGO 3

After only posting four hits in game one, the Lions had four in the first inning of game two, scoring three runs and chasing Megan Sabbatini. Megan Von Behren led off the game with a double to left and then came in to score on a Stephanie Maciel RBI single to left. The Lions would load the bases after a walk and single and plated two more runs on a Hannah Montalban single up the middle, which ended Sabbatini's day. Grace Hernandez walked the first batter she faced, but then retired the next two to get out of a bases loaded jam.

The Toreros got on the board in the bottom of the third. Sierra Berryessa reached on a bunt single and then came all the way around to score on an Olivia Sandusky double down the left field line.

The Lions led off the next inning with three singles to load the bases with no outs. Grace Hernandez worked her magic once again, inducing three straight groundouts to escape the inning unscathed and keep USD down just two runs.

The Toreros cut into their deficit in the bottom of the fifth. Lauren Berriatua led off the inning with a single. Shannon McKeon then pinch ran for her and was advanced to third on a pair of groundouts. Freshman Taylor Spence came up with a clutch two out RBI single to plate McKeon and cut the score to 3-2 LMU.

Bad luck struck the Toreros in the top of the sixth. With a runner on second, Stephanie Maciel popped up to center and Olivia Sandusky lost the ball in the sun, allowing it to drop and a run to score. The Lions scored one more with a double to right center, giving them a 5-2 lead.

The Toreros got a run back in the sixth with a Mary Grabowski double to the gap, plating Lauren Kane.

The Toreros were outhit 13-10, but forced the Lions to leave ten runners on base. Sabbatini (8-15) takes the loss after allowing three runs in just 0.1 innings. Grace Hernandez was solid in relief, tossing 6.2 innings of two run ball.

The Toreros wrap up the series Sunday with a noon game.