Panthers enter 'Championship Week' in search of SCIAC titles
ORANGE, Calif. - While the rest of campus begins preparations for final exams, Chapman University athletes will be tested early as they vie for SCIAC Championships in their respective postseason tournaments. In their first season of postseason eligibility, the following spring sports will look to add their names to join the women’s soccer team and swimmer Julie Case on the short list of Panther SCIAC Champions.
Softball
Despite finishing the season on a six-game losing streak, the softball team enters the SCIAC postseason tournament as the No. 3 seed with a 24-14 overall record (17-11 SCIAC). Led by nine seniors, the Panthers will rely on pitchers Cassie Oregel and Natalie Both as they face off against the Claremont Athenas on Friday in the first round of the double elimination tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. in Redlands.
In the batters box, the Panthers have been led by senior center fielder Jenny Richards, who currently ranks in the SCIAC top five in nearly every offensive category, batting .423 with 14 extra-base hits, 32 runs scored and 19 RBI in 38 games. In the circle, the duo of Oregel and Both have combined to post a 22-11 record with 21 complete games, while Both leads the conference with 112 strikeouts.
Women’s Track and Field
A record-breaking season for the Panthers will culminate with the SCIAC Championships taking place on Friday and Saturday. Freshman sprinter Lauren Deats will lead the Panthers as they set out to upset their SCIAC opponents. The championship prelims will be hosted by Cal Lu on Friday at Occidental College, followed by the finals on Saturday at 2 p.m
Men’s Golf
Finishing with a perfect 3-0 record in dual-matches this season, the men’s golf team hopes to continue its success at the SCIAC Championships at Oak Valley Golf Course on Saturday. The Panthers have been led all season by seniors Chris Lungo and Lyon Lazare. Lungo, who leads the team with an average round of 76, is vying to become the first Chapman golfer since 1995 to earn a spot at the NCAA Division III National Championships. He will look to continue his success after a season-ending performance where he shot a match-best round of 3-over 75 on April 17 versus Cal Lu.
Women’s Lacrosse
In their first season of Division III competition, the women's lacrosse team clinched the No. 3 seed in the SCIAC Championships and will host Whittier College in a first round matchup on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Wilson Field.
The Panthers have been led all season by junior M Victoria Wilkinson and freshman M Kelsey Mackin, who rank Nos. 6 and 7 in the SCIAC in goals scored with 49 and 44 goals, respectively. The high-powered offense leads the conference in scoring, averaging 15.7 goals per game, more than two goals per game higher than the next closest team.
Baseball
Tabbed as a “rebuilding year” by many, the baseball team has turned heads this season with impressive victories over ranked opponents and a respectable conference record. The Panthers will look to improve upon their 13-11 conference mark as they enter SCIAC pool-play, a four game round-robin tournament to conclude the regular season. The boys of spring will kick off pool-play on Saturday at Hart Park with a doubleheader against Whittier (11 a.m.) and Redlands (3 p.m.).
Women’s Water Polo
A streaky season was capped off with four straight losses, sending the Panthers’ conference record to 2-6 as they finished sixth in the SCIAC. The Panthers will head to Pasadena to face Pomona-Pitzer in the first match of the double-elimination SCIAC Championships on Friday at 2:30 p.m.
Men’s and Women’s Tennis
The men’s and women’s tennis teams will compete this weekend (April 26-28) in the Ojai Tournament at the Ojai Valley Tennis Club as they prepare for the SCIAC Championships on May 3-4 in Pasadena.
by Ryan Cavinder
Sports Information Assistant
Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChapmanSports
#CUPanthers