THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The offense exploded for an eight-run eighth as the Chapman University softball team took game one of its series with Cal Lutheran 11-3 in extras. The two teams went into extra innings for the second time this season as both series openers went into extras.

Chapman fell a few weeks ago in extra innings to Cal Lutheran but didn't let it happen again. Junior Kelly McCarty did a little bit of everything as she tossed three innings of scoreless relief and knocked in three runs with a bases loaded triple in the eighth. She picked up her second win of the season along with her first hit.

McCarty's triple put the game away for Chapman as she increased the lead from 6-3 to 9-3. The Panthers had enjoyed a hit parade before McCarty's triple with run-scoring singles from junior Tracie Okumura and Allie Tajii. Seniors Zela Chahbazian and Rani Lauwers each had two hits in the eighth with both driving in a run with their second hit.

Chahbazian doubled to lead off the inning and Lauwers ended the game 3-for-4 with three RBIs.

Chapman opened the scoring with three runs in the first on a two-run double from Lauwers and an RBI-single from Julia Muniz. Cal Lutheran manufactured its three runs in the fifth.

The Panthers and Regals close out the series with a doubleheader tomorrow, starting at noon at El Camino Real Park.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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