THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – One inning proved to be the difference on Friday afternoon, as Cal Lutheran softball fell 5-4 to Occidental in the series opener at Hutton Field.
The Regals (14-21, 6-13 SCIAC) struck first and showed late fight, but a five-run third inning from the Tigers ultimately stood as the deciding blow in a tightly contested game.
Cal Lu wasted no time getting on the board, as
Mia Reveles continued her strong stretch at the plate with a solo home run in the bottom of the first to give the Regals an early 1-0 advantage.
Oxy (5-29, 3-16 SCIAC) flipped the game in the third, capitalizing on a pair of defensive miscues and timely small-ball execution. The Tigers used a combination of bunts, situational hitting, and extra-base power to plate five runs in the frame to take a 5-1 lead.
Despite the setback, the Regals chipped away and refused to go quietly. In the fifth, Reveles sparked another rally with a triple before coming home on a sacrifice fly from
Reyna Perez. Later in the inning,
Samantha Swerdloff delivered a clutch two-run single to right center, scoring
Jessica Waters and
Evie Horton to pull CLU within one at 5-4.
Reveles was a clear bright spot offensively, finishing a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, triple, walk, and two runs scored.
Danielle Diaz added a pair of doubles, while Waters,
Sofia Aviles, Swerdloff, and
Brooke Strahm each contributed hits in the effort.
Kalli Strahm went the distance in the circle, allowing just three earned runs on eight hits while striking out four.
Cal Lutheran had opportunities late, putting the tying run on base in the seventh, but Oxy was able to close the door and secure the narrow victory.
The Regals will close out the 2026 campaign with a road doubleheader at Occidental on Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m..
