Panthers stay even with another tournament split

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team defeated DeSales University (Pa.) 6-1 on Thursday afternoon, but couldn’t rally for a second victory, dropping the late game 7-6 to Holy Names University in the Sun West Tournament at Hart Park. The Panthers have earned splits in five of their seven doubleheaders this season and are now 2-2 in tournament play.

Game 1: Chapman 6, DeSales 1
Chapman took advantage of four walks and a hit batter and jumped on the board early, plating four runs in the first inning on just two hits. Sophomore DP Jayme Jarvis had an RBI single in the inning. The Panthers added to their lead in the fourth inning on a two-run double by freshman OF Kerry Peterson making it 6-0.

That was more run support than senior RHP Ally Waffle would need. The Panthers’ right-hander scattered six hits in 5 1/3 innings and allowed just a sixth-inning run to improve to 4-1 this season. Senior RHP Vanessa Goncalves struck out a pair of batters in relief of Waffle.

Chapman drew nine walks in the game. Sophomore OF Jojo Wakabayashi was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases.

Game 2: Holy Names 7, Chapman 6
The Panthers saw an early 1-0 lead evaporate with three errors in the third inning that led to three unearned runs for Holy Names. The Hawks added four more runs in the fourth and led 7-1 after 3 1/2 innings.

However, Chapman rallied for two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Senior IF Melanie Villarroel doubled to lead off the inning and sophomore OF C.C. Daly drove her home with an RBI base hit. Daly then came around to score on an RBI groundout from sophomore IF Courtney James.

Two innings later, a big blast from sophomore C Michelle Pitts – a three-run homer to left – pulled the Panthers within a run at 7-6, but that was as close as they’d come. Jarvis coaxed a lead off walk the seventh and the runner reached third with one out, but consecutive strikeouts left the tying run stranded at third.

Pitts and Daly each had a pair of hits for Chapman, which out-hit Holy Names 10-9.

Freshman RHP Sarah Solis struck out five and surrendered seven hits and four earned runs in defeat.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscores:
Game 1: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2009-10/stats/cu-des.htm
Game 2: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2009-10/stats/hnu-cu.htm