El Camino Park softball debut ends up in a split

ORANGE, Calif. - A pair of runs in the third inning was enough to earn the Chapman University softball team a doubleheader split with visiting Pacific Lutheran University (Wash.) on Monday afternoon in the inaugural games at El Camino Real Park, the Panthers' new home field. Chapman took a time-shortened Game 2 by a score of 2-1 following a season-opening loss to the Lutes in the first game 6-2.

Game 1: Pacific Lutheran 6, Chapman 2
The Panthers looked shaky in their 2010 debut committing five errors that led to five unearned runs before suffering their first loss of the year. Chapman out-hit the Lutes 5-4 in the game, but could only manage single runs in the third and fourth innings.

Trailing 3-0 in the third, the Panthers rallied for their first run on an RBI single by freshman OF Kerry Peterson. Chapman added another run in the next inning on a double by freshman IF Kyla Javier which plated senior IF Dani Brown, cutting the deficit to one run.

That was as close as Chapman would get as five walks and five defensive miscues was too much to overcome. Pacific Lutheran scored twice more in the fifth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth to make a winner out of starting pitcher Jackie Martinez.

Game 2: Chapman 2, Pacific Lutheran 1 (5 innings)
In a contest shortened due to the Lutes' travel schedule, the Panthers earned the split on the strength of a two-hit complete game by freshman RHP Sarah Solis. The rookie didn't allow an earned run and struck out a pair of batters in five innings to pick up her first collegiate victory.

Down by a run, Chapman (1-1) rallied for two runs in the third inning. Sophomore OF Jojo Wakabayashi singled to leadoff the inning and scored on an RBI double to left by Peterson. Sophomore C Michelle Pitts drove home a second run with an infield groundout to give the Panthers the lead for good.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscores:
Game 1: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2009-10/stats/plu-cu1.htm
Game 2: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2009-10/stats/plu-cu2.htm