Season comes to a close with losses to Vanguard

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball season ended on a sour note as the Panthers dropped their final two games to visiting Vanguard University 5-3 and 2-0 at El Camino Real Park on Tuesday afternoon.

Game 1: Vanguard 5, Chapman 3
The Panthers rallied from 1-0 and 3-1 deficits to tie the game twice. However, Vanguard (24-29) took the lead for good in the top of the fourth and pushed across an insurance run in the sixth to defeat Chapman (9-31) and senior RHP Kristen Oechsel, making her third career start on "Senior Day".

Chapman's first run came in the first inning, trailing 1-0. Junior IF Courtney James squeezed in a run with a bunt after junior OF Andrena Calix singled and junior C Michelle Pitts drove a double to deep centerfield, sending Calix to third. Those same three were at it again in the third as consecutive singles by Calix, Pitts and James scored another run and sophomore OF Kerry Peterson plated the Panthers' third run with an RBI single to make the score 3-3.

However, Vanguard RHP Katherine Jablonski held Chapman hitless from there, tossing four and 2/3 innings with four strikeouts to earn the victory in relief.

Game 2: Vanguard 2, Chapman 0
Chapman's bats were silenced by Lions' RHP Stacie Salazar who tossed a three-hit shutout in the Panthers' season finale. The Panthers could not capitalize on three Vanguard errors and left eight runners on base in the game.

Chapman's best scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the seventh when it got runners to second and third with one out thanks to the third Lions error, a walk and a stolen base. However, Salazar got her sixth strikeout and then induced a popup to end the game.

Sophomore RHP Katie Terry was the tough-luck loser, tossing a complete game and striking out three. She scattered seven hits and allowed single Vanguard runs in the first and fourth innings, only one of which was earned.

Pitts went 1-for-3 in the final game and finished the season leading the team with a career-high .404 average and struck out just five times in 114 at-bats. The junior's batting average is the highest for a Panther since 2008.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscores
Game 1: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2010-11/boxscores/20110426_teap.xml
Game 2: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2010-11/boxscores/20110426_u8jk.xml