Softball splits doubleheader with Alfred
ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team ended its recent five-game slide with an 11-3 run-rule victory over Alfred in the second game of a doubleheader. The Saxons took the first game of the doubleheader 1-0.
Game 1 – L, 1-0
Freshman Jessica Kim was dominant in the circle but an error brought in the game's lone run as Chapman fell 1-0. Kim held the Saxons to just three singles and a walk, allowing only two runners to even reach scoring position. She retired 10 batters in a row between the first and fourth innings.
In her first collegiate start, Kim retired the side in order in the third inning with just three pitches. When the first runner of the fourth grounded out on the first pitch, she had retired her 10th batter in a row and recorded five of those outs on just five pitches.
Lu Crawczyk's leadoff single in the first turned into the game's only run. She advanced to second on a slow roller to the right side and was sacrificed over to third. However, the throw to first on the sacrifice attempt sailed down the right field line, allowing Krawczyk to sprint home from second.
The Panthers scattered around five hits off of Jessica Wilcox but were unable to scratch out a run. They had runners on second and third with one out in the fourth but Wilcox induced a ground out and struck out the final batter to end the threat. Wilcox went on to retire the final 11 Panthers in order to secure the win for her team.
Game 2 – W, 11-3 (6 inns.)
The Panthers' bats burst out of their recent slump with big second inning and kept the momentum to a run-rule victory. Chapman scored in every inning except the third and put up a five-spot in the second to start the rout.
Junior Michaela Foisy went 4-for-4 in the game, scored three times and had three stolen bases to lead the rout. She scampered home on an error to end the game in the sixth. Sophomore Lagi Pakola had three hits in the game with an RBI and two runs scored. Junior Sarah Sumida drove in three RBIs while freshman Ayanna Sanchez picked up a dominant win out of the bullpen.
The Panthers took advantage of a couple of miscues to put up the crooked number in the second inning. Down 2-1, Pakola led off with a single to spark the rally. A sacrifice and walk put two on with one out. The speedy Foisy beat out a bunt single but the throw sailed into right field, allowing Pakola to score easily to tie the game.
Sumida followed with a looping single into left to score two more. Junior Heaven Wong drove in another run later in the inning and freshman Allie Tajii drew a bases loaded walk to make it 6-2 Panthers.
The hit parade continued as the Panthers had 13 hits in the game while striking out just twice. They put up three more in the fourth on RBI singles from Pakola and Foisy and an RBI-grounder from Sumida. Another run in the fifth and one in the sixth ended the game early.
Sanchez entered the game in the second inning and shut down an Alfred rally with back-to-back strikeouts. She went on to strike out seven in four and two-thirds innings while scattering three hits and a pair of walks.
The Panthers continue the busiest stretch of the season with a SCIAC doubleheader at Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday before returning home to face Williams on Sunday at 1 p.m.
By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director
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