THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The Cal Lutheran softball team nearly pulled off an upset in game one against No. 5 Linfield, but the Wildcats rallied in the seventh to comeback and win, 7-3. Linfield carried its momentum into the second game and completed the sweep with an 11-1 victory on Sunday at Hutton Field.
To begin the afternoon, Blake Lewis continued her hot start to the year with a two-run blast to dead centerfield to give the Regals a 2-0 lead, scoring Andrea Brackpool who singled up the middle with two outs.
After Courtney Sooy got out of a jam with two runners on in the top of the second, CLU tacked on one more in the bottom half of the frame to take a 3-0 lead. Hannah Brown doubled to left center to leadoff the inning and later came around to score on a double to center by Mikaela Mayhew.
Linfield added runs in the fourth and fifth, but CLU held on to its 3-2 lead heading into the top of the seventh.
The Wildcats opened with a leadoff single and then a CLU throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt allowed Linfield to tie the game. Three consecutive infield singles brought in the go-ahead run and the Wildcats would tack on three more to take a 7-3 lead.
The Violet and Gold were shut down in the bottom half 1-2-3 and Linfield would take the victory in its season opener.
Brooke Chapman (1-0) earned the win after relieving starter Maddy Dunn in the fifth and pitched three scoreless innings while striking out two and allowing just two hits.
Sooy (5-3) was tagged with the loss after tossing a complete game and allowing four earned runs on 11 hits and striking out two.
Mayhew and Makenna Pellerin each went 2-for-3 at the plate while Amanda Lewis also had a multi-hit game going 2-for-4.
In the second game of the doubleheader, it was all Linfield as the Wildcats jumped out to a 9-0 lead after the third inning and finished with 11 runs and 15 hits.
Olivia Leyva provided the only highlight of the game for the Regals with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to bring home Emily Manwell for the only run of the game. Brackpool was the only other Regal to record a hit.
Shelby Saylors (1-0) went three scoreless innings for Linfield to earn the win, giving up just one hit and striking out one.
Nicole White-Madolora (2-3) picked up the loss after allowing 10 runs on 13 hits in four innings. Freshman Alyssa Anderson made her CLU debut on the mound in the fifth inning.
Cal Lutheran (7-6) returns to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps this Saturday, Feb. 27 at 12:00 p.m. at Hutton Field.
Box Score: LC 7, CLU 5
Box Score: LC 11, CLU 1
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