Softball pulls off double walk-off to earn conference sweep

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team swept its conference doubleheader against Cal Lutheran on Wednesday afternoon. In game one the Panthers walked off in the bottom of the sixth to win 9-1, followed by an 11-10 walk-off win in the night cap. Senior Samantha Whalen led Chapman to victory with two RBI's in game one and three RBI's in game two.

Game 1 – Chapman 9, Cal Lutheran 1– 6 innings

The Panthers took an early lead in game one with eight unanswered runs in the second, third and fourth innings. In the second inning the Panthers scored five runs, four of which were driven home when junior Christine LoVerde tripled and scored on an error with the bases loaded.  In the bottom of the third, freshman Tracie Okumura homered down the left field line, giving the Panthers a six-run lead.

Whalen went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Lo Verde hit 1-for-2 with four RBIs.

The Regals scored one run in the fifth inning to cut the deficit to 8-1. With junior Michaela Foisy on third with one out, Whalen singled through the left side to mercy rule the Regals and take game one.

Junior Sarah Hartmann earned her first victory of the season, striking out two batters while only allowing one run in six innings pitched.

Game 2 – Chapman 11, Cal Lutheran 10

Cal Lutheran fought back in game two, working their way back from an 8-3 deficit in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 8-8 in the top of the sixth. The Regals scored twice more in the top of the seventh, putting them in the lead for the first time since the second inning.

With runners on first and third with one out, Chapman scored a run on a wild pitch, narrowing their deficit to 10-9. A critical error from the third baseman brought in the Panthers' final two runs as the Panthers walked off for the second time that afternoon and earned the sweep. 

Whalen was raking game two, going 3-for-3 with three hits and three RBIs on an inside-the-park home run. Okumura went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run. Samantha Tong went 1-for-3 with three RBI's and one run scored.

On Saturday the team will return to El Camino Park at 12 p.m. to host Whittier College in their ninth conference doubleheader.

by Molly Weber
Sports Information Intern

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