Muniz drives in six runs as Panthers sweep doubleheader
ORANGE, Calif. – One day after sweeping Pomona-Pitzer at El Camino Real Park, the Chapman University softball team produced the same result on the same diamond, winning two games over visiting Stevens Institute (NJ) on Monday night. Sophomore Karina Muniz went 5-for-5, driving in six runs as the Panthers improved their season record to 14-2.
Game 1: Chapman 4, Stevens Institute 0
Starting pitcher Cassie Oregel shut down the Ducks in the first contest, tossing seven shutout innings, allowing just four hits while striking out eight. The sophomore notched her second shutout of the season, extending her scoreless-inning streak to 20 innings.
After taking the lead with an unearned run in the second inning, the Panthers struck again in the third. Senior Rhianna Stepler-Camp scored on a heads-up play as Lisa Perez was caught in between first and second, eluding defenders long enough for Stepler-Camp to cross the plate safely.
Chapman would add two more in the sixth as Karina Muniz tripled to drive in Kerry Peterson and Larissa Rinauro connected for an RBI-single to score Muniz.
Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2012-13/boxscores/20130311_n1sz.xml?view=plays
Game 2: Chapman 11, Stevens Institute 3
Muniz capped her career-day with four RBI in the final two innings of game two to lead the Panthers to an 11-3 victory. On the mound, senior Katie Terry provided an admirable encore to Oregel's shutout, earning her second win with her first complete game of the season as the Panthers run-ruled the Ducks.
It was the Ducks who would strike first, plating an unearned run in the opening frame. Their lead would not last long as Chapman responded with three runs in the bottom half of the first on RBI from Stepler-Camp, Peterson and Muniz.
The Panthers pushed their 4-1 advantage in the second inning, scoring three more runs including a two-run single off the bat of Peterson. The senior leftfielder went a combined 4-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI in Monday's doubleheader.
The Ducks cut into Chapman's 7-1 lead as they put together a two-out, two-run rally to bring the deficit to four. The momentum did not last long as Muniz belted a three-run home run – her first of the season – to put the Panthers up 10-3.
Muniz would seal the victory in the fifth as her RBI-single boosted her RBI total for the game to five and gave the Panthers an eight-run lead, ending the ballgame.
by Ryan Cavinder
Sports Information Assistant
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