Softball walks off to split doubleheader with CMS

ORANGE, Calif. – After dropping the first game 11-1, the Chapman University softball team rallied in extra innings to pull off a 7-6 walk-off victory over the visiting Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (5-3, 3-3 SCIAC). The Panthers (2-4, 1-3 SCIAC) were led to victory by sophomore Samantha Tong, who hit a walk-off double to score the winning run in the eighth inning of game two.

Game 1 – L, 1-11

Chapman started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore Michaela Foisy led off, singling up the middle. Sophomore Sarah Sumida was up next, reaching first on an error by the third baseman. Foisy reached third on the error, bringing Tong up to the plate. Tong bunted and reached on a fielder's choice and Foisy was able to beat out the throw to score the Panthers' only run of the game.

Sophomore pitcher Sarah Hartmann gave up one run in each of the third and fourth innings to give the Athenas a one-point lead. The fifth inning was all Claremont-Mudd-Scripps action, as they scored six runs to extend their lead. After three more runs in the top of the seventh, the Panthers went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning, taking a loss in the first game.

Game 2 – W, 7-6

The second game of the doubleheader was a back-and-forth thriller, with Chapman coming out victorious on Tong's walk-off double. Claremont-M-S started the scoring in the second, going up by two on a single and a double. After junior Samantha Whalen retired the first three batters of the fourth, the Panthers took control and tied it up. Senior Kristen Weiser was walked, followed by junior Hope Ballard being hit by a pitch. Freshman Jordyn Krohn stepped up, singling up the middle and scoring freshman pinch runner Mallory Mathis. Ballard was the next to score on an error from the Athena's first baseman, bringing the score to 2-2 in the fourth.

Chapman took the lead in the sixth with a couple of singles from sophomore Nina Nooteboom and Foisy. With just three outs until the end of the game in the top of the seventh, Claremont-M-S came out swinging. After a couple of singles, the Athenas had runners on second and third. Freshman Molly Spaniac singled to right field, scoring two runners and tying the game at four all.

With the ball game all tied up after seven innings, the Panthers and Athenas headed to extras. After a batter was hit by a pitch and another singled, Claremont-M-S had runners on first and second. Freshman Maddie Valdez stepped up, doubling to left center and scoring one. Freshman Jessica Fox then reached on a fielder's choice, scoring a runner and tying the game at 6-6. With a runner on first, sophomore Kylie Hetzel flied out to center field, ending the inning.

With runners on second and third and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Sumida singled through the left side, scoring the two runners and tying up the game once again. Tong stepped up to the plate with Sumida on first base. The sophomore doubled to the fence in right center and Sumida rounded the bases at full speed, beating out the throw to home and giving the Panthers the walk-off victory.

Chapman returns to their home field at El Camino Real Park tomorrow at 12 p.m. for a SCIAC doubleheader against Occidental.

by Katie Bell
Sports Information Assistant

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