Shutouts help softball sweep Pomona-Pitzer

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team broke out of its recent offensive woes while getting 12 shutout innings from its pitching staff on the way to a SCIAC doubleheader sweep over visiting Pomona-Pitzer Colleges on Friday afternoon at El Camino Real Park. The Panthers won 2-0 in Game 1 before earning a 'run rule' win over the Sagehens 9-0 in five innings in Game 2.

Game 1: Chapman 2, Pomona-Pitzer 0

An RBI double by freshman IF Amber Perez in the third inning and a leadoff double by junior OF Karina Muniz in the sixth inning led to Chapman's runs – more than enough for junior RHP Cassie Oregel who tossed a four-hit shutout in the circle for the Panthers. Oregel finished with four strikeouts and retired the side in order in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings for her third victory of the season.

Sophomore OF Natalie Both was 2-for-3 for Chapman, including one of three Panther doubles in the game.

Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2013-14/boxscores/20140314_35dj.xml

Game 2: Chapman 9, Pomona-Pitzer 0

Chapman (6-10 overall, 5-7 SCIAC) scored a season-high nine runs thanks to a seven-run second inning that included an RBI single by Muniz and another RBI double by Perez. Five of the seven runs in the inning were unearned as the Panthers capitalized on one of four Sagehens errors and sent 12 batters to the plate. The big blow in the inning came from junior IF Mindy Gibson who drove a two-run double to left.

All of the offense came in support of Both, who has struggled to receive run support this season. Both improved to 3-6 this season with the one-hit shutout, striking out seven while surrendering just an infield single in the third inning.

The sweep of Pomona-Pitzer (1-14 overall, 1-9 SCIAC) is Chapman's second doubleheader sweep of the season and moves the Panthers into fifth place in the SCIAC standings as they reach the midway point in the conference schedule on Saturday.

Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2013-14/boxscores/20140314_wxfo.xml

Chapman travels to Occidental on Saturday, a team they swept in Orange last month, looking to even their conference record. The Panthers return home on Sunday to host a non-conference doubleheader with NYU-Poly beginning at 4 p.m. at El Camino Real Park.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChapmanSports
#CUPanthers