ORANGE, Calif. – For the second year in a row, the Chapman University softball team claimed a share of the SCIAC Regular Season title with Redlands and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The Panthers split a Senior Day doubleheader with CMS, losing 12-2 and winning 7-3, to end the season in a three- way tie atop of the SCIAC standings.

The Panthers will be the No. 2 see in next week's SCIAC Tournament with Redlands clinching the top seed and the right to host the tournament.

The Panthers celebrated seniors Summer Lake, Katie Carder and Simi Lauwers in a pregame ceremony before the final home games of their career.

Game 1 – L, 12-2
The Panthers took an early 2-0 lead but a disastrous third inning led to a run-rule victory for the Athens. CMS scored 11 runs on nine hits and four Panther errors to break the game open. The Athenas sent 12 batters to the plat before an out was recorded.

Rose Malen was the third pitcher of the third inning and recorded all three outs. She went on to pitch three innings, allowing one run on five hits with two strikeouts.

The Panthers' two runs came on a two-RBI single from Ilianna Serna in the first inning. Chapman had just three hits in the game.

Game 2 – W, 7-3
Chapman rebounded behind a solid outing from Jillian Kelly in the circle to take the series and clinch the No. 2 seed in the SCIAC Tournament. The story of the game again involved a big inning but it was the Panthers putting together a long rally to take control.

Serna again opened the scoring for the Panthers as she squeezed in Miranda Murphy, who avoided the tag at the plate for a 1-0 lead. The Panthers went on to plate five runs on six hits and two CMS errors. Serna scored on an error, Morgan Lastinger hit a sacrifice fly and Emily Hayes lined a two-RBI single into center before the Athenas could put an end to the rally.

Hayes closed out her Panther career at El Camino Real Park with a 3-for-3 game, knocking in three RBIs. Jordan Westerfield also had three hits while Miranda Murphy and Mo Lynch both went 2-for-4.

Kelly tossed four innings to pick up the win. She allowed three runs on five hits and struck out five. Malen tossed three perfect innings to end the game and pick up the save – her first of the season. She struck out one and did not allow a baserunner.

Hayes hit another RBI-single in the third and Kristy Kitabayashi scored on an error in the fifth to round out the Panthers' scoring.

Chapman heads out to Redlands on Friday for their fifth consecutive SCIAC Tournament appearance. Chapman will play third-seeded CMS at 3:30 p.m. and top-seeded Redlands will host Cal Lutheran, who took a split series against the Bulldogs this weekend, at noon.