Both leads Panthers to sweep over Puget Sound

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team earned its first season-sweep over University of Puget Sound on Saturday evening. The Panthers defeated Puget Sound 9-1 in five innings in game one and secured a 6-5 win over the Loggers in game two.

Game 1: Chapman 9, Puget Sound 1

The Panthers scored early in game one posting two runs in the second inning. Senior Gabrielle Leveratto doubled to left center to score junior Amber Perez and give Chapman the lead 1-0. Leveratto then scored on an RBI by senior Larissa Rinauro to lift the Panthers lead to 2-0.

Chapman boosted its lead to 5-0 in the fifth with Perez driving in a pair of runs on a single to the right side. The Panthers picked up another three in the fourth to extend their lead to 8-0. Leveratto then scored again on a wild pitch in the ninth to secure the 9-1 victory.

The Loggers scored their first and only run of game one off of back-to-back singles by Amber Popovich and Mckenna Johnson to prevent the shutout in the fifth.   

Game 2: Chapman 6, Puget Sound 5

In Game two Chapman scored three runs in the first inning with freshman Elizabeth Runge sparking the three-run rally with a triple to deep right center to give the Panthers an early 3-0 lead. The Panthers capitalized on an error in the fourth to extend their lead to 4-0.  Chapman strung together four hits in the fifth to score a pair of runs and boost the Panthers lead to 6-2.

The Loggers scored a pair of runs in the third to tighten the score 4-2 off a double by Emily Knott. Puget Sound added another two in the seventh when Kristi Nagamine doubled to left center.  

Chapman out-hit Puget Sound 18-8 in the games. The Panther offense was led by Runge who finished the day with three hits and a pair of RBI.

Senior Natalie Both secured two wins on the day tossing eight innings on the day and giving up just five hits while recording ten strikeouts.  

Chapman (2-2 overall, 0-2 SCIAC) will host Trinity (Tex.) on Thursday, February 14 for a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m.

by Raquel Rinauro
Sports Information Assistant

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