THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — In a game that needed nine innings to decide a victor, Regals starting pitcher Ashlyn Flinchum pitched a complete game with 15 strikeouts, but Cal Lutheran softball ultimately fell to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3-2 in a thriller on Friday afternoon. 

Despite the loss, Flinchum was dominant as she set her season-high for strikeouts in a game and kept the Regals in it the whole way. Her lone earned run marks the first she's allowed in her last four appearances. Flinchum has a 0.36 ERA since March, allowing just two runs in 38.2 IP. 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Flinchum was an out away from keeping the game tied 2-2 and getting the Regals (7-9, 4-2 SCIAC) out of a jam in the top of the ninth, but the Stags (14-6, 5-0 SCIAC) scored the go-ahead run with a two-out single to make it 3-2 and the Regals went down in order in the bottom half of the inning. 

The Regals had opportunities to walk it off in the seventh and eighth innings but came up just short. Emily Blank hit her second double of the game in the Regals' half of the seventh but was gunned down trying to score the winning run at home plate after a single from Reyna Perez. In the eighth, Olivia Vargas singled and advanced into scoring position, but the Regals couldn't get the run home. 

The Stags struck first with a run in the third inning, but Blank tied the game up for the Regals with an RBI double to score Ashley Membrere and Abby Strong singled the next batter to drive in Blank. 

THE NUMBERS
- Flinchum (5-2): 9.0 IP, 9 H, 2 BB, 3 R (1 earned), 15 K
- Blank: 2-3, 2 2B, BB, R, RBI
- Perez: 2-4
- Strong: 1-3, BB, RBI

UP NEXT
The Regals look to bounce back and take the series against the Stags in their doubleheader tomorrow, Saturday, April 6 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.