Softball drops doubleheader to Pacific Lutheran

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team dropped a Sunday doubleheader to visiting Pacific Lutheran, 5-3 and 3-2. The Lutes hit four home runs – the final of which came in the sixth inning of game two – to secure the sweep.

Game 1 – L, 5-3

The Lutes jumped on top early with three runs in the top of the first, capped by a two-run homer from Kennedy Kila. Jillian Kelly settled in after the rocky first. She allowed just one more run on four hits over the next five innings to keep the Panthers in the game.

Taylor Corcoran doubled in a run to get Chapman on the board in the second. The Lutes added a run on a solo homer in the fifth. In the sixth, Chapman rallied for a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly from Jordan Stinnett and a run-scoring double from Grace Fosselman.

After the Lutes went to the bullpen, they escaped the jam with the lead and then added a home run in the seventh.

Game 2 – L, 3-2

Rose Malen needed just 75 pitches to toss a complete game. She struck out three and allowed three runs on seven hits. However, pne of those hits was a two-run homer for Kila – the difference in the game.

Offensively, Chapman managed two runs on four hits. Freshman Shea Higa knocked in a run with a sinking line drive single in the third. Summer Lake gave Chapman a 2-1 lead in the fourth with a ground rule double.

Malen held the lead until the sixth when Kila hit a two run homer to right center to regain the lead for the Lutes.

The Panthers fell to 2-3 in the early season after the doubleheader sweep. They open up conference play on Feb. 25 when they take on Occidental in a doubleheader at El Camino Real.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChpmanSports