ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team finished off a series win over Whittier with an 8-2 victory on Tuesday. The Panthers and Poets concluded the SCIAC series from February that was rained out on Feb. 14.

Chapman and Whittier split the doubleheader weeks ago, leaving the series open for either side to take. The Panthers emphatically took the series victory with another strong pitching performance and timely hitting.

The Panthers jumped ahead 3-1 in the first inning as two runs scored on an error and Morgan Lastinger singled in another run after the error. The two-out rally came after an unearned run scored in the first for Whittier.

The two-run lead would have been plenty sufficient with another strong outing in the circle. Jillian Kelly started the game to move to 6-0 on the season and Rose Malen finished off the final six outs to claim the victory.

Kelly allowed just two runs (one earned) while striking out three and walking one in five strong innings. When she ran into trouble in the sixth with two on and none out, the Panthers turned to Rose Malen to close the door.

She slammed it shut as the first batter she faced lined into a double play and she went on to retire all five batters she faced, striking out two along the way.

Ilianna Serna knocked in a pair of runs with an RBI-single in the second and a run-scoring triple in the sixth. She went 3-for-4 on the day and scored Chapman's final insurance run. Mo Lynch and Miranda Murphy each had a pair of hits.

With the win, Chapman moved to 11-2 on the season and will face off against Carleton in a doubleheader tomorrow at 2 p.m.