Pitching falters on 'Senior Day' as Panthers suffer doubleheader sweep
ORANGE, Calif.- In a preview of the SCIAC postseason tournament first-round matchup, the Chapman University softball team was swept by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in a doubleheader Saturday at El Camino Real Park. The Panthers wrapped up their season with six straight losses, but will enter the postseason tournament as the No. 3 team, facing the Athenas on Friday in Redlands
Game 1: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 12, Chapman 7
Despite indications from the final score, the first game began as a pitcher's duel between Chapman's Katie Terry and Athena Hayley Schultz, who entered the game tied for the SCIAC lead with 21 wins. The two pitchers combined to allow just three hits through the first three innings before giving way to an impressive offensive display from both dugouts.
The Panthers broke through first, getting to Schultz with four runs in the fourth inning. A leadoff double from Brittany Furlong turned into the first run of the game as Tatiana Mahshi slapped a two-out single to collect her first RBI on the season. Two batters later, Larissa Rinauro singled to load the bases for centerfielder Jenny Richards, who drove in three runs on a single that skipped past CMS left fielder Shannon O'Neill.
Terry held the Athenas scoreless until the sixth inning, when they sent 15 batters to the plate, scoring 11 runs. The offensive explosion began on a bases loaded single by Mikayla O'Neal that was mishandled by Richards, bringing the Athenas to within one run of the Panthers at 4-3. CMS tacked on three more when Morgan Beltz clubbed a three-run double off the left field wall, followed later by a three-run triple off the bat of Marie Bradvica to top off the 11-run inning.
Trailing 12-4 with three outs remaining, the Panthers made a valiant effort to get back in the game as a Furlong RBI-double highlighted the three-run rally. The deficit proved to be too large to overcome, however, as Schultz finished the inning to notch her 22nd win of the season.
Box score: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2012-13/boxscores/20130420_dmi0.xml
Game 2: Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3, Chapman 1
Convinced not to give the Athenas an advanced look at her customary starting pitchers, Panthers head coach Janet Lloyd called on senior Rhianna Stepler-Camp to start the second contest. Chapman's everyday third baseman delivered an impressive performance in her first start since 2011, tossing a complete game, allowing three runs on eight hits while walking one and striking out one.
The Panthers loaded the bases in the fourth inning, but only managed to provide one run of support for Stepler-Camp, who gave up the lead in the third, allowing a run on an RBI-single from Megan Latta and another run on a sacrifice fly from Carley Roberts. CMS would tack on another insurance run the following inning as a Bradvica double drove in Katie Savard for the third and final run.
Trailing 3-1 in the sixth, the most unlikely pinch-hitter stepped into the batters box for the Panthers. Senior Kyla Javier, who is recovering from surgery on her right thumb, batted for Mahshi with a cast on her right hand. Though she struck out swinging, Javier's gritty effort was the perfect finish to her illustrious career at Chapman.
Box score: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2012-13/boxscores/20130420_ogna.xml
by Ryan Cavinder
Sports Information Assistant
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