No-hitter highlights Panthers', seniors' final game

ORANGE, Calif. -  Behind a no-hit, 12-strikeout performance from its pitching staff, the Chapman University softball team defeated visiting La Sierra University 8-0 on Sunday afternoon at Hart Park in the final regular season game for both teams. The Panthers snapped a six-game losing streak by scoring five times in the final two innings to earn a ‘run-rule' victory for the fifth time this year.

Junior RHP Katie Finley tossed four no-hit innings, striking out 10 batters to improve to 6-6 this season. At one point in the game, Finley struck out seven consecutive batters. Junior RHP Ally Waffle pitched a perfect fifth inning and added two strikeouts of her own to complete Chapman's first no-hitter since last February against Pomona-Pitzer.

Fittingly on ‘Senior Day', it was Chapman's two elders who put the finishing touches on the win. Leading 6-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, senior C Kandy Francis singled to left to drive in junior IF Erin DeRycke with the first run of the inning. Two batters later, senior OF Erin Dudzinski doubled in freshman OF Jojo Wakabayashi for the game-winning run. It was her school-record 44th career double.

The Panthers also got a two-run home run an inning earlier from junior IF Dani Brown - her team-high fourth of the season and second in three games. Dudzinski and freshman DP Michelle Pitts each had two RBI. Dudzinski also added to her school stolen base record with her 51st and 52nd career steals.

Chapman (17-20) finishes the season with a 7-4 record at Hart Park and 8-2 in games where the Panthers hit at least one home run.

Game Box: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2008-09/stats/lsu-cu.htm