ORANGE, Calif. – The Panthers are SCIAC Tournament champions once more. After forcing the winner-take-all game, the Chapman University softball seized momentum and captured the SCIAC Tournament title with a 4-0 victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

A senior class that began its career with a SCIAC Tournament title, ended with the same title and will head to the NCAA Division III Softball Championships next week.

Rose Malen claimed the Tournament MVP honors after tossing her second complete game shutout of the weekend. Malen was the winning pitcher in three of the four games, shutting out Pomona-Pitzer on Friday and CMS today. She struck out three and allowed just three hits in the win.

The Panthers methodically built its 4-0 lead but immediately jumped on top when Miranda Murphy sprinted home on a double steal in the bottom of the first. Ilianna Serna's sacrifice fly doubled the lead in the third

Chapman's offense broke out in the fourth with back-to-back doubles from Aleena Helms and Morgan Lastinger to make it 3-0. Mia Reyes cashed in another run with a single and Malen did not allow a hit after the third as the Panthers claimed the SCIAC's automatic bid.

Chapman improved to 31-9 with the win. The Panthers will learn which Regional they will travel to during the NCAA Selection Show on Monday at 8 a.m.