Posted: Apr 06, 2011
Losing streak continues as Chapman drops a pair to Pacific Lutheran
ORANGE, Calif. – Offensive production continued to be a major problem for the Chapman University softball team as they combined to score three runs in a pair of losses to Pacific Lutheran University on Wednesday afternoon at El Camino Real Park. The Panthers dropped the first game 14-1, but then made a game of the second, before losing 4-2.
Game 1: Pacific Lutheran 14, Chapman 1
Pacific Lutheran (19-9) scored at least one run in every inning, including nine runs in the first three innings to take control of the game. The big inning for the Lutes came in the second as the batted around against sophomore starting RHP Rhianna Stepler-Camp, scoring five runs on five hits. Four of the Lutes' runs during the second inning scored via the single including a two-run single by senior OF Kaely Cuthill.
Pacific Lutheran (19-9) scored at least one run in every inning, including nine runs in the first three innings to take control of the game. The big inning for the Lutes came in the second as the batted around against sophomore starting RHP Rhianna Stepler-Camp, scoring five runs on five hits. Four of the Lutes' runs during the second inning scored via the single including a two-run single by senior OF Kaely Cuthill.
Chapman (7-25) answered with its lone run of the game in the second inning as they capitalized on a pair of Pacific Lutheran errors for an unearned run against Lutes' starting RHP Stacey Hagensen. Chapman junior IF Courtney James led off the inning by reaching on an error and then came in to score on an RBI groundout by junior UT Jayme Jarvis making the score 7-1.
The Lutes then closed out the win with two runs in the third, one in the fourth and four in the fifth led by Hagensen who went 2-for-3 with 3 RBI, including a home run to center field in the fifth.
Game 2: Pacific Lutheran 4, Chapman 2
Chapman hung tough in the second game, in large part because of the pitching and hitting of sophomore RHP Katie Terry. The Lutes once again jumped ahead with single runs in the first, second and third innings to take a 3-0 lead but they were not able to string together a big inning as they had in the first game.
Trailing by three, Chapman rallied with a pair of runs in the third inning to narrow the score to 3-2. The inning was highlighted by an RBI double from Terry and sacrifice fly from sophomore OF Kerry Peterson that scored Terry from third. Terry, who's confidence is riding high after a grand slam home run against Whittier over the weekend, continued her strong hitting of late with a 4-for-4 effort in the game.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Panthers threatened but came up short as a Chapman runner was thrown out at home to end the game after a single by Terry. The Panthers have now lost 12 games in a row, extending its losing streak which is already the longest in school history. Chapman has scored more than two runs on just two occasions during the slide.
by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant