2021-22 Softball News

Chapman softball holds up a champions sign after winning the SCIAC Tournament title.
Softball latest to earn academic distinctions

August 01, 2022

The Chapman University softball team was equally as impressive in the classroom as it was on the field in 2021-22. The Panthers ended the season ranked 26th in the NCAA Division III for GPA and had 21 student-athletes earn academic recognition.

Chapman University logo and SCIAC logo
A record number of Chapman student-athletes earn SCIAC All-Academic

July 18, 2022

Chapman University student-athletes set a new school record with 281 individuals earning SCIAC All-Academic recognition. The 281 individuals to earn the annual academic recognition are 22 more than year’s record-breaking number. The SCIAC annually recognizes student-athletes who have been at their institution for at least one academic year and finished the school year with a 3.4 cumulative GPA or better.

Jillian Kelly and Illiana Serna smile together before the start of an inning.
Freshmen duo selected to NFCA All-Region Teams

May 16, 2022

The dynamic freshmen duo of Jillian Kelly and Ilianna Serna have both been selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s All-Region X teams. Kelly was selected to the Second Team and Serna was on the Third Team.

Kelly McCarty delivers a pitch.
Softball drops final two games of NCAA Regional

May 14, 2022

Although softball dropped both legs of Saturday’s double header, the Panthers ended a fantastic season finishing 28-14 with a SCIAC championship and a NCAA Regional appearance against Texas Lutheran.

Julia Muniz gets a hit.
Softball drops NCAA Regional opener at Texas Lutheran

May 13, 2022

The Chapman University softball team fell 9-1 to No. 2 Texas Lutheran in the first game of the best-of-five NCAA Regional. Allie Tajii had two hits to lead the Panthers.

Tracie Okumura puts her hands in the air in celebration.
Softball to take on Texas Lutheran in NCAA Tournament

May 09, 2022

The Chapman University softball team is heading to Texas Lutheran for the regional round of the NCAA Division III Softball Championship. The Panthers won their first-ever SCIAC Tournament title to claim their bid into the national championship.

Chapman softball holds up a champions sign after winning the SCIAC Tournament title.
Softball sweeps its way to first-ever SCIAC Championship

May 08, 2022

A monumental win in Chapman Softball history, as the Panthers take home their first SCIAC tournament championship after a 5-2 win over Redlands on Sunday, May 8 completed Chapman’s three-game tournament sweep.

Miranda Murphy hits a fly ball.
Murphy does it again, softball advances to championship game

May 07, 2022

Miranda Murphy delivered in the clutch for the second day in a row to send the Chapman University softball team into the championship game of the SCIAC Postseason Tournament with a 6-4 victory over Pomona-Pitzer. The Panthers advanced through the winner’s bracket with a an extra inning win – a day after walking off in the bottom of the seventh.

The softball team gathers in front of the dugout.
Softball SCIAC Postseason Tournament: 5 Things To Know

May 06, 2022

A week after taking two of three from La Verne to earn a spot and the No. 2 seed in the SCIAC Tournament, the Panthers and Leopards will face off again in the opening round of the conference playoff. Redlands earned the top seed and will host every game of the double elimination tournament.

Miranda Murphy (Photo by Larry Newman)
Murphy walks it off in first-round win

May 06, 2022

After being down 7-5 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning on Friday, May 6, the two seeded Chapman Panthers came from behind to defeat the third seed La Verne Leopards in the first round of the SCIAC tournament, 8-7, via a walk-off single from Miranda Murphy.

Top Jillian Kelly, bottom from left to right, , Samantha Kennedy, Ilianna Serna, and Annika Briski. (Photos by Larry Newman)
Softball garners four All-SCIAC awards

May 04, 2022

The SCIAC released its All-SCIAC First and Second Team honors on Wednesday, May 4. Four Panthers were named to the teams, along with Jillian Kelly being awarded SCIAC Pitcher of the Year and named to the First Team. Annika Briski, Ilianna Serna, and Samantha Kennedy were named Second-Team All SCIAC.

Nine Chapman softball seniors holding flowers.
Softball clinches No. 2 seed with series win over La Verne

April 30, 2022

With a doubleheader split with La Verne, the Chapman University softball team clinched a spot in next week’s SCIAC Tournament. After falling 6-3 in the first game, the Panthers clinched the series and the No. 2 seed in the postseason tournament with 4-1 win in game two.

Simi Lauwers (Photo by Larry Newman)
Lauwers notches 100th K as softball splits double header

April 23, 2022

The Chapman softball team split a crucial double header on Saturday, Apr. 23 with a 6-4 loss in game one and 8-6 win in game two, all while Simi Lauwers collected the 100th strikeout of her career.

Jillian Kelly strides off the pitcher's rubber to throw a pitch.
Kelly dominant in series-opening win over CMS

April 15, 2022

Jillian Kelly cruised and the Chapman University softball team opened up its series against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps with a 5-1 win on Friday. Kelly picked up her 11th win of the season and recorded her 100th strikeout of the season.

Simi Lauwers (Photo by Larry Newman)
Softball falls to Pomona-Pitzer

April 08, 2022

Softball lost a SCIAC matchup to the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on Friday, Apr. 8, 11-1. The Sagehens didn’t get a hit until the fourth inning, but once they did they were on fire. Pomona-Pitzer scored four runs in the fourth, two in the fifth, two in the sixth, and three in the eighth en route to the victory.

Janet Lloyd talks to two players.
Softball splits doubleheader, drops series to Redlands

April 02, 2022

A blowout victory evened the series but the Chapman University softball team fell in the second game of a Saturday doubleheader and dropped the SCIAC series to Redlands on Saturday. The Panthers took the first game 16-3 before falling 3-2 in the finale.