ORANGE, Calif. – A pair of 3-2 victories earned a sweep for the Chapman University softball team over visiting Pacific Lutheran on Sunday. Three strong pitching performances led the Panthers' second and third win in a row to improve to 4-3 on the season.
Game 1 – W, 3-2
Miranda Murphy provided yet another clutch moment in her Chapman career as she brought in the go-ahead run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Murphy dropped a single just inside the left field foul line to score pinch runner Kristy Kitabayashi and break the 2-2 tie.
Simi Lauwers finished off a dominant relief effort in the seventh to secure the win. Jillian Kelly started the game in the circle and was dominant through five innings. She had allowed just five hits and struck out seven through five scoreless frames before the Lutes got to her in the sixth. Lauwers shut the door on PLU's late rally and allowed no hits through 1.2 innings to secure the win.
The Panthers started fast with Chill Serna's ground ball up the middle cashing in Grace Fosselman for the day's first run. Murphy doubled on a high fly ball to left center to score Morgan Lastinger to make it a 2-0 game in the second. Rachael Rheinhart settled in after the second and struck out six.
The Lutes put two in scoring position with one out in the sixth and tied the game on Brooke Tilson's two-RBI single into right.
Murphy ended the first game with three hits to go along with her two RBIs from the leadoff spot.
Game 2 – W, 3-2
Rose Malen went the distance to earn her first complete game victory of the season. She allowed seven hits but limited PLU to two runs and struck out eight while not issuing a walk. Six of her first eight strikeouts came in the first three frames.
After the Lutes put up a run to open the game, the Panthers took the lead in the second. Aleena Helms brought the Panthers even with her first career hit and RBI – a scorching ground ball up the middle to score Serna. Emily Hays followed Helms with a sacrifice fly to put the Panthers in front 2-1.
Malen and PLU's Paige Wilson traded blows over the next few innings before Jojo Westerfield added to the lead when she dropped an RBI-double into the left field corner in the fifth.
PLU once again answered in the sixth with an RBI-single but a grounder to short ended with a runner being thrown out at the plate and was followed by a comebacker to end the inning.
Murphy had another hit to go 1-for-3 while Serna went 2-for-3.
The Panthers head to the NFCA Leadoff Classic next week in Columbus, Ga. For six games in three days.
