Both teams toss shutouts as Panthers split doubleheader with La Verne
ORANGE, Calif. – Freshman Natalie Both tossed her first career shutout as the Chapman University softball team earned a split in its doubleheader with La Verne on Saturday at El Camino Real Park. The Panthers won the first contest 4-0 behind the play of Both and senior Jenny Richards, but were run-ruled in the second game, losing 8-0.
Game 1: Chapman 4, La Verne 0
Natalie Both's complete game shutout set the tone for the Panthers in the first game of the day as she improved to 2-0 with the win. The freshman allowed just four hits while striking out nine and walking one in her first career shutout. The nine punch outs by Both are the most by a Panther this season and bring her season total to 28 in just 24.1 innings pitched.
In the batter's box, senior centerfielder Jenny Richards initiated the Panthers' offense, scoring off an Amy Serven single after leading off the third inning with a triple.
Richards started the rally once again in the fourth with a single to center that scored seniors Kyla Javier and Kerry Peterson. Serven capitalized after a wild pitch put runners on second and third, grounding out to score freshman Larissa Rinauro to give the Panthers a 4-0 lead.
Richards finished the game 3-for-4 while both she and Serven collected two RBI each.
Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2012-13/boxscores/20130223_ctqn.xml
Game 2: La Verne 8, Chapman 0
Looking to extend her team's seven-game win streak, Panthers head coach Janet Lloyd called on sophomore Cassie Oregel to start the second game. Oregel entered the game with a 2-0 record and a 1.32 ERA, but struggled early allowing three straight hits to start the game as the Leopards jumped out to a 2-0 lead.
La Verne would add three more against Oregel in the fourth inning as Candice Nunez and Mackenzie Dutton connected for back-to-back doubles. Oregel retired the next four batters she faced, but a leadoff double in the fifth forced Lloyd to go to her bullpen, calling on sophomore Kimmi Takahashi.
In just her second appearance of the season, Takahashi hit the first batter she faced. With two runners on, the sophomore fought back for two quick outs before consecutive singles put the Leopards up 8-0.
Leopards pitcher Katherine Kibbe closed out the bottom half of the fifth inning, securing the run-rule victory for the Leopards. The two-hit complete game by Kibbe improved her unblemished record to 4-0.
The Panthers will be back in action on Friday, March 1 in a doubleheader at Whittier College.
Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2012-13/boxscores/20130223_k752.xml
by Bogart Avila & Ryan Cavinder
Sports Information Intern & Sports Information Assistant
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