THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran softball wrapped up its SCIAC-opening series on Sunday afternoon, falling 2-0 to No. 23 Chapman University at William Hutton Field.

In another tightly contested pitcher's duel, the Regals matched the Panthers inning for inning but were unable to come up with the timely hit needed to break through.

Chapman broke the scoreless tie in the fourth, using a leadoff single and a walk to set up an RBI base hit to left. The Panthers added an insurance run in the sixth with another RBI single down the right field line to extend the lead to 2-0.

Cal Lu finished with five hits, as Danielle Diaz and Sofia Aviles each turned in two-hit efforts. Riley Osborne added a single for her first collegiate hit, though the Regals could not generate the sustained offense needed to push a run across.

Joie Steinkamp went five innings in the start for CLU, and Ava Torre followed with two scoreless innings in relief to keep the deficit at two.

Chapman's Rose Malen tossed a complete-game shutout, scattering five hits without issuing a walk.

Cal Lutheran will have time to reset before returning to action on Friday, February 27, when it welcomes the University of Chicago to Thousand Oaks for a doubleheader.