ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team split a doubleheader with Illinois Wesleyan on Sunday, winning 3-2 and falling 3-0. A pair of strong pitching performances helped the Panthers move to 8-2 on the season.
Game 1 – W, 3-2
Jillian Kelly struck out three, walked one and allowed four hits in the complete game win. She allowed just one earned run while another unearned run scored in the seventh inning. She improved to 4-0 on the season and has not allowed more than one earned run in any start this year.
While Kelly took care of business in the circle, retiring the first nine batters in a row, the Panthers scored a run in the first and two in the fifth to take the win. Jojo Westerfield put the Panthers up in the first with an RBI-single to bring home Miranda Murphy.
In the fifth, the Panthers took the lead with Westerfield again at the plate. Her sacrifice bunt was thrown down the right field line, allowing Mia Reyes to score. Mo Lynch brought in an insurance run with a sacrifice fly, which proved to be crucial.
Kelly pitched around two errors in the seventh as the Titans threatened with a run and the tying run on base before a pair of pop outs to center ended the game.
Game 2 – L, 3-0
The Panthers couldn't get going offensively, scattering five hits over seven innings, as they fell for the second time this season. Murphy and Reyes combined for four of the five hits while Tiana Reeder-Monaghan also singled.
Rose Malen limited the Titans to just four hits while striking out seven and not issuing a free pass. However, four errors in the first three innings proved too much to overcome as the Titans scored three unearned runs in the third. The first run came home on a dropped fly ball and the next two were doubled in by Jen Kuhn.
Malen retired the next eight in a row after the third but Mallory Holland continued to put up zeroes in the scoreboard for IWU. Chapman grounded out 15 times against Holland.
The Panthers are next scheduled to take on Haverford on Tuesday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader.
