Panthers win fourth straight, sweep Williams

ORANGE, Calif. -  It was a day of firsts for the Chapman University softball team on Monday. The Panthers swept back-to-back doubleheaders for the first time this year defeating visiting Williams College (Mass.) 6-3 and 10-2 two days after taking a pair of wins from Cal Lutheran. As a result Chapman (14-12) is on a season-best four-game winning streak and climbed two-games above .500 for the first time all season.

Game 1: Chapman 6, Williams 3
Chapman rallied for four runs in the second inning to snap a scoreless tie. The Panthers scored their first run on a sacrifice fly by freshman DP Michelle Pitts with the bases loaded and one out. Junior IF Melanie Villarroel then followed with a three-run home run - her second in three days - to give Chapman all the runs it would need.

The Panthers plated a run in the fifth on an RBI single by junior IF SheaLynn Slover, and another in the sixth thanks to an RBI double by Pitts. Pitts finished 3-for-3 with two RBI and Villarroel also had three hits, two runs and a stolen base.

Meanwhile, junior RHP Ally Waffle (3-7) won her second straight game, scattering seven hits and allowing just one earned run in a complete-game effort. Waffle also struck out five batters.

Game 2: Chapman 10, Williams 2 (6 inn.)
Sophomore IF Laura Alexander hit a walk-off RBI double to give the Panthers a run-rule shortened win in the bottom of the sixth inning. Alexander came off the bench to collect two of Chapman's 12 hits in its fourth consecutive victory.

The Panthers overcame a brief 1-0 deficit with a rally in which they scored all five runs with two outs. That rally included a two-run single from sophomore IF Katelyn Geary, followed by a two-run double by freshman OF Jojo Wakabayashi. Wakabayashi also had two hits, three RBI and stole a base. Geary was 2-for-2 with a walk.

Chapman stole eight bases in the game, including two from senior OF Erin Dudzinski. Villarroel stayed red-hot with another 2-for-3 performance and an RBI.

Junior RHP Vanessa Goncalves won her fourth straight decision, striking out seven batters and walking none in six innings.

Game 1 Box: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2008-09/stats/wil-cu1.htm
Game 2 Box: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2008-09/stats/wil-cu2.htm