Both teams earn come-from-behind wins as Chapman splits with Vanguard

ORANGE, Calif. – Freshman RHP Cassie Oregel threw a complete-game and senior utility C.C. Daly had two RBI as the Chapman University softball team earned a split with Vanguard University on Tuesday afternoon at El Camino Real Park. Chapman won the first game 3-2 behind the play of Oregel, Daly, and senior C Michelle Pitts, but lost 4-2 in eight innings in the second game.

Game 1: Chapman 3, Vanguard 2
Vanguard (30-22) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when IF Breanne Gomez doubled to left field which scored OF Kari Bergerson. Chapman (19-12) took the lead in the bottom of the third after Daly had a two-run single which scored senior IF Courtney James and junior IF Stephanie Engle. 

The Lions tied it up in the fourth inning when a throwing error by Engle allowed IF Elizabeth Archer to come home. Chapman scored its game-winning run in the fifth inning on an RBI double off the left field fence by freshman OF Karina Muniz, which scored IF Kyla Javier. 

Oregel earned the win for the Panthers adding five strikeouts, and improving her overall record to 8-4.

Game 2: Vanguard 4, Chapman 2
Despite leading in the first inning 2-0, and keeping the lead for a majority of the game, Chapman allowed Vanguard to tie the game 2-2 in the seventh inning. After a single by freshman utility Haley Croce to right, a three-base fielding error by Muniz in right field allowed Croce to come around and tie the game at 2-2.

The Panthers took the lead early on when senior Pitts earned an RBI, bringing home senior OF Andrena Calix. Muniz also earned an RBI in the same inning, running in James, making the score 2-0.  Pitts and James both went 2-for-4 in the second game.

With the game all tied up at the end of seven innings, Vanguard took advantage of the international tiebreaker rule which placed OF Taylor Hallahan on second base to start the inning.  With Hallahan on second, IF Brittney Boggs singled to left-center which scored Hallahan and gave the Lions a 3-2 lead. Vanguard added an insurance run when Boggs also scored to make the score 4-2.

Both James and Pitts were 2-for-4 in the second game while freshman relief pitcher Kimmi Takahashi had a strong outing, allowing just three hits and no runs over 4 1/3 innings.

The Panthers play a doubleheader against Whittier College (rescheduled from March 18) on Friday April 20 at 3 p.m. at El Camino Real Park.

by Aileen Yoon and Chris Watts
Sports Information Intern and Sports Information Assistant

Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports