Softball extends season-opening win streak to six

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team stayed perfect on the season with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Pacific Lutheran on Sunday. Freshman Simi Lauwers tossed a three-hit shutout to complete the sweep and the offense surged late in game one for the win.

GAME 1 – W, 8-4

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead only to see it disappear late. However, the bats responded with a four-run rally in the sixth to take the 8-4 win in the first game.

Freshman Jillian Kelly was in the circle for the first game and extended the scoreless start to her career to 17 innings before the Lutes became the first to get on the scoreboard against her. Kelly ended up with her third win after striking out seven and walking three over six innings of work. Senior Jessica Kim overcame a pair of walks to close out the seventh.

Chapman jumped on top in the first on a wild pitch and a run-scoring single from senior Annika Briski. Senior Julia Muniz made it 3-0 in the third with a hard line drive that deflected off the pitcher to the second baseman for a run-scoring groundout. Junior Gracie Rose doubled on a long fly ball to left field to set up the opportunity.

The Panthers chased the Lutes' starter after three innings but the PLU bats went to work in the fourth. Erin McGrath hit a solo homer to straightaway center for the first run off Kelly this season. Chapman answered in the fifth when a failed squeeze attempt turned into Tracie Okumura scampering home on a throwing error. Okumura went 2-for-2 with a walk as did Rose.

The Lutes rallied for three in the sixth to tie the game, scoring three runs on three hits with a walk. After Kelly's seventh strikeout finally ended the rally, Chapman's bats went to work to immediately rally for four runs.

The rally included two sacrifice flies from Okumura and Muniz as well as a bases loaded walk to freshman Samantha Kennedy. Rose laid down a bunt with Kennedy on third and reached without a throw but continues all the way to second  when no one was covering the base.

GAME 2 – W, 3-0

Lauwers took ove the game in the circle, allowing just three hits in the shutout victory and striking out 10 batters. She allowed a pair of doubles but kept both runners from advancing any further in a dominant performance.

Chapman scored runs in the even innings to supports Lauwers gem. Freshman Morgan Lastinger singled in a run in the second, pinch runner Summer Lake scored on a wild pitch in the fourth and Taylor Corcoran hit a sharp ground ball to short to score the runner from third in the sixth.

The Panthers continued to play solid defense through the doubleheader. They did not commit an error and have made just one in their first six games.

Chapman gets into its SCIAC schedule next week with a doubleheader at Occidental at noon.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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