Softball splits Senior Day doubleheader
ORANGE – The Chapman University softball team took on the Redlands Bulldogs Saturday afternoon in a doubleheader at El Camino Real Park. The Panthers handed Redlands its first SCIAC loss of the season with a 3-0 win in game one but the bUlldogs took game two 12-6.
Game 1 - W, 3-0
In a senior day doubleheader extravaganza, it was only fitting a senior collect the win for the Panthers in the circle. Mykala Tokunaga threw a complete-game shutout to stump the Bulldogs 3-0.
Junior Tracie Okumura got the offense started right away, literally; the first pitch of the game was driven over the left fielder's head for a stand-up double. She ended the game a perfect 3-for-3 with a run and RBI.
The next batter, junior Allie Tajii, ripped another double down the left field line scoring Okumura. After a wild pitch that advanced Tajii to third, junior Julia Muniz hit a sacrifice fly to center field.
The offense tacked on another insurance run in the fourth inning when Okumura lined a single up the middle scoring junior Rani Lauwers.
Tokunaga tossed her second complete game shutout of the season to get improve to 4-0 on the season and lower her ERA to 1.12. She allowed just five hits and did not issue a walk.
Game 2 - L, 12-6
The Panthers fell in the second leg of the doubleheader, 12-6.
The Redlands' offense – held in check for seven innings by Tokunaga – let loose with nine runs in the first inning to take a commanding lead. Chapman answered with four runs of its own but could never close the gap entirely.
Tokunaga drove in the Panthers' first run, then senior Zela Chahbazian followed with a two-run single of her own. Finally, sophomore Emily Hayes reached on an error by the second baseman, driving in Tokunaga.
The teams traded a few more runs throughout the remainder of the game, with Panther pitching, including freshman Simi Lauwers and junior Joan Karstrom, holding the Bulldogs to just four hits after the first inning.
Tokunaga had a pair of hits in the game and Chahbazian drove in three runs.
The Panthers will look to take the rubber match of the series tomorrow at Redlands.