Perez's game-winner highlights doubleheader split with Cal Lu

ORANGE, Calif. – Junior Amber Perez delivered a walkoff single in the eighth inning of game one and the Chapman University softball team split a doubleheader with Cal Lutheran on Saturday at El Camino Real Park. The Panthers secured a 2-1 extra-innings win in the early game before falling 7-1 in the nightcap.

Game 1 – W, 2-1 (8 inns.)

Both sides owned the game in the circle but the Panthers rallied late to get the extra inning victory. Freshman Samantha Whalen went the distance for her first career complete game in the circle for the Panthers. She struck out eight batters while allowing only five hits and two walks through eight innings.

Whalen allowed just one unearned run to come around to score in the first inning. The Reglas would only reach as far as third twice more in the fifth and the seventh but Whalen would always slam the door on any attempt at a rally.

The Panthers loaded the bases in the first with two outs but came up empty. Only two more batters would reach first before the seventh inning as Courtney Sooy cruised in the circle for Cal Lutheran. Down to their last out, the Panthers laced three consecutive singles to tie the game at 1-1 in the seventh. Sophomore Lindsay Rawls sparked the rally and pinch hitter Rhiannon Geving followed with another sinlge. Freshman Elizabeth Runge smack another single right back up the middle to score pinch runner Kristin Yee to tie the game.

Whalen worked a 1-2-3 eighth before back-to-back walks and a Kristen Weiser single loaded the bases. Perez promptly dropped a single in front of the right fielder to bring in the winning run for the Panthers.

Game 2 – L, 7-1

The momentum from the end of the first game didn't quite carry over into game two as the Panthers fell 7-1. After two scoreless frames, Cal Lutheran put up four runs in the third, capped by a two-run single from Scooter Rapisardi.

The Panthers weren't without their chances to get back in the game as they left at least a runner on base in every inning except the first. The Regals added another run in the fourth to make it 5-0 before Lisa Perez brought in the Panthers lone run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. A Cal Lutheran single in the sixth brought in another run and an error allowed the seventh run to come home for insurance.

The Panthers stayed at .500 with the twinbill split at 8-8 overall but fell to 2-6 in the SCIAC. Chapman heads to Pomona-Pitzer on Friday for a SCIAC doubleheader before coming back to Orange for a twinbill with Whittier on Saturday at noon.

by Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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