Behind pitching, veteran softball squad aims to return to postseason
ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team will begin its 2015 season when it opens on Saturday in Thousand Oaks against Cal Lutheran University with 13 returning players. The roster includes seven starting position players from last year's squad, along with perhaps the top two pitchers in the SCIAC: junior RHP Natalie Both and senior RHP Cassie Oregel.
Both and Oregel helped lead the team to back-to-back SCIAC Tournament appearances in the past two years. Both tossed 173 strikeouts last season as a sophomore, leading the SCIAC for the second straight year. And as a junior, Oregel ranked second in the SCIAC with 103 strikeouts in 118.2 innings and finished fourth in the conference with 14 wins. Chapman's 1-2 punch combined for 10 shutouts and were each named to the All-SCIAC team.
Among the veteran starters anchoring the lineup will be junior C Lisa Perez who compiled a .990 fielding percentage and finished the season with a team-leading five home runs and a .333 batting average. Another All-Conference selection, senior IF Taylor Cartwright is back after racking up nine extra-base hits and 26 RBI in 42 games.
Returning at the top of the lineup are left-handed hitting juniors OF Amy Serven and IF Larissa Rinauro, who combined to score 34 runs a year ago. Sophomore IF Amber Perez posted a .440 slugging percentage and led the team with six doubles. And senior OF Karina Muniz clubbed four homers and drove in 19 RBI, which ranked second on the team.
Chapman's road back to the conference playoffs will be a challenging one. The Panthers will face-off four times each against NFCA Division III nationally-ranked SCIAC foes No. 10 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps and No. 25 Redlands. They will also travel to Texas for six intra-regional games, including having to face East Texas Baptist which finished 45-10 overall last year and is ranked No. 3 in the nation, as well as No. 6 Texas-Tyler.
First pitch on Saturday at Cal Lutheran is scheduled for 12 p.m. and links to live stats can be found at www.chapmanathletics.com.
by Marissa Maynor & Doug Aiken
Sports Information Intern & Sports Information Director
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