ORANGE, Calif. –The Chapman University softball team is ready to begin the 2022 season – its first full season since 2019. The Panthers welcomes ten newcomers to a roster already loaded with 18 returners, including eight regular starters.

An experienced and deep squad takes the field at Westcliff University on Tuesday before returning home for back-to-back Sunday doubleheaders.  Eight regular starters return from 2021, led by senior All-SCIAC selections Julia Muniz and Tracie Okumura.

Muniz had a coming out party in the shortened 2021 season that ended with All-Region honors, hitting .439 with 22 RBIs in 22 games played. She had 10 extra-base hits with a 1.184 OPS while securing her spot in the middle of the lineup. Okumura has been a mainstay in the at second base since her freshman season. She is a .352 lifetime hitter with a .420 career on-base percentage. She hit .414 in 22 games last year and drove in nine runs with six doubles and a triple. She also stole nine bases.

In the outfield with Muniz, senior Allie Tajii returns to roam up the middle. She has totaled four career outfield assists, including two last season as a regular starter for the first time. Sophomore Summer Lake emerged as the starter in right field after the short 2021 season and hit .271 with 10 RBIs. With ten newcomers to the team, the Panthers will have a number of players looking to earn some time covering the outfield grass at El Camino.

Senior Rani Lauwers returns to the middle of the lineup and behind the plate in 2022. Lauwers has been an offensive boost to the Panthers over two COVID-shortened seasons. She's hit .356 in 37 games as a Panthers. She drove in 13 RBIs last season while hitting six doubles and a triple. Defensively, she's caught five runners trying to swipe a base.

Junior Alyssa Ahinger and sophomore Bella Leach made up the Panthers left side of the infield toward the end of the 2021 season with junior Emily Hayes making appearances at third and behind the plate as well. With first base left unoccupied by last year's senior class, newcomers and returners will look to jump into the crucial position and spot in the lineup. Senior Annika Briski is a lifetime .358 hitter and was a clutch bat off the bench in her first three years.

The Panthers also return a great deal of experience in the circle with senior Jessica Kim and Kelly McCarty as well as sophomore Simi Lauwers. Those three along with sophomore Katie Carder combined to throw 113 of Chapman's 144 innings last season. Lauwers shouldered the bulk of the innings with 55.2 innings pitched in 2021. They'll be joined by CIF City Section champion and Pitcher of the Year Jillian Kelly, who can make an immediate impact on the pitching rotation.

The Panthers first pitch is at 3 p.m. at Westcliff before making their home debut on Feb. 13 in a 9 a.m. doubleheader against Puget Sound.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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