ORANGE, Calif. - A strong start for the Cal Lutheran softball team today in a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) double header against Chapman turned sour as the Regals lost a lead late in game one to fall 4-3 before being shut out, 8-0, by the Panthers in a six inning nightcap at El Camino Real.
In the first game, Cal Lutheran out hit Chapman 10-4 and had ample opportunities, but the Regals left 10 runners on base, while the Panthers stranded just five. Kayla Sakamoto and Courtney Sooy each had two hits in the game and Sakamoto reached base a trio of times, also drawing a walk.
Three CU errors loaded the bases for the visiting Violet and Gold in the first inning of the first game. One swing of the bat by Danika Green gave the Regals a quick 2-0 lead when both Katelyn Downing and Sakamotoscored.
Chapman would respond in the bottom of the first, cutting the CLU advantage in half, after a one out bunt by Amy Serven and an RBI triple from Taylor Cartwright. They would eliminate the deficit an inning later as the Panthers knotted the teams at 2-2.
Cal Lutheran regained the lead in the top of the fourth when Sakamoto, who reached on an infield hit, scored for the second time of the day on a Courtney Sooy single up the middle.
The lead would hold until the bottom of the sixth when the Panthers capitalized on a hit batter and a walk as Natalie Both doubled down the left field line to plate the tying and winning runs.
Downing (2-4) was tagged with the loss after scattering four hits and four runs with one strike out. Cassie Oregel earned the win for Chapman.
The second game was a different story as the momentum that CU gained late in the first game transferred over. Blake Lewis reached base in all three at-bats, recording the only hit for the Regals as she also drew a walk and was hit by a pitch. The only other CLU player to make it to first base was Greenwho earned a walk as well.
Three fielding errors were detrimental for the Regals as Chapman also collected nine hits, though none were for extra bases. Sooy (4-6) went just 1.2 innings, allowing three earned runs before Shonna Christianson came on in relief to allow just one. Each pitcher struck out one Panthers batter.
Cal Lutheran (12-8, 8-4 SCIAC) will be out of action for the rest of spring break and returns to the diamond on Monday, March 24 as the Regals host Willamette (Ore.) in a non-conference double header scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
Box Score: CU 4, CLU 3
Box Score: CU 8, CLU 0 (6)
CLU Twitter: https://twitter.com/clusports
Follow Taylor: @CLUSoftball
CLU Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clusports
CLU Instagram: http://instagram.com/clusports#
