Softball lands program-best five All-SCIAC selections

ORANGE, Calif. – A program-high five Panthers were selected to the All-SCIAC softball teams, which were announced by the conference on Tuesday. After finishing the SCIAC season tied atop the standings, three were selected to the First Team and two more earned Second Team selections.

Ilianna Serna earned a First Team selection for the first time after being named to the Second Team last season. She was joined on the First Team by freshman Rose Malen and sophomore Miranda Murphy. Sophomore Sam Kennedy was recognized on the All-SCIAC Second Team for the second year in a row along with the first career honors for Simi Lauwers.

Chapman's pitching staff led the Panthers to the top of the standings with the second-best team ERA in the conference. Two Chapman pitchers ranked 1-2 for ERA in SCIAC games. Malen ranked second toe earn her First Team selection with a 1.12 ERA in SCIAC games. She struck out 45 and walked just nine in 62.2 innings with a 5-3 record and a SCIAC-leading two saves. She ranked among the top-3 in the SCIAC in wins, saves, strikeouts and ERA.

Lauwers led the SCIAC with an outstanding 0.97 ERA, allowing just six earned runs in 43 innings pitched and was chosen to the Second Team. She went 4-2 in SCIAC games and struck out 20 while only walking six.

Serna's First Team selection comes after another brilliant year at the plate. Her .419 batting average in SCIAC contest led the conference. She also led the SCIAC with 10 doubles and ranked second with 14 RBIs. She had at least one hit in 17 of the 20 SCIAC games she played in.

Murphy hit .356 in the SCIAC season, knocking in seven RBIs and scoring seven more times for the Panthers. She smack three doubles, walked seven times and stole four bases. She also had three outfield assists.

For the second year in a row, Kennedy was recognized on the Second Team. She ranked fourth in the SCIAC with nine stolen bases while being caught just once. She hit .306 and scored 13 runs while also ranking in the top-10 with a .427 on-base percentage.

The Panthers' five selections are the most in program history for Chapman, matching their best program finish in a tie for first. Chapman will head to the SCIAC Tournament at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps this weekend as the No. 2 seed. The Panthers face third-seeded Redlands at 3 p.m. on Friday to open the double-elimination championship.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director