REDLANDS, Calif. — Cal Lutheran softball was one game short of playing for the SCIAC Tournament Championship as they staved off elimination knocking out Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 7-2 before falling to Chapman 9-0 on Saturday afternoon.
GAME ONE: Regals 7, Athenas 3
Trailing 2-1 after four innings of play, the Regals (15-19) used a six-run fifth inning to avoid elimination in game two of the SCIAC Tournament and eliminate the Athenas (24-14). Nadia Collins singled to lead off the inning and stole her 11th base of the season to get in scoring position right away. Reyna Perez singled, and an error by the first baseman allowed Collins to score from second to tie the game up. Olivia Vargas made it back-to-back singles to set up a scoring opportunity for pinch hitter Regan Laubscher, making just her third appearance and first of the playoffs since February 19th after battling through an injury. Laubscher delivered in her lone chance with runners on the corners, doubling to left field to score both runners. Then, Abby Strong, Hanna Booth, and Sachi Reyes combined for three singles in a row to cap off the big inning for the Regals as they went into the sixth up 7-2.
Ashlyn Flinchum went 7.0 strong innings in her fifteenth complete game of the season, displaying her ability to deliver quality starts in any way needed. The Athenas could tally 11 hits while only striking out three times in the contest, but Flinchum limited the damage and came up clutch time after time to only allow three runs.
GAME TWO: Regals 0, Panthers 9
Casey Edwards, Ally Forbell, and Ava Tepesano all pitched against Chapman. The Panther batters were on a roll with 15 hits and nine runs. They scored three runs in the first three innings and had the big lead.
Collins, Vargas, Emily Blank, Booth, and Brooke DeSmet had a hit to lead the offense, but the Regals could not convert with any runs.
UP NEXT
The Regals say goodbye to their graduates, but fans should be excited for the 2025 season. The spotlight falls on their up-and-coming contributors, while the return of Flinchum, Vargas, Booth, and many others creates an exciting combination of talent as the Regals look to build off of their first SCIAC Tournament appearance in nine years.