Softball Wins First NCAA Playoff Game
CMS achieved a program milestone on Thursday with their first win in the NCAA Championships. The Athenas beat Central College (IA) 8-4 in the Indianola, IA regional. CMS, the #4 seed in the regional, will face #1 seed Linfield at 4:00 Central on Friday.
Melissa Munoz (JR, Union City) hit a bases loaded single to jump start a five run third inning to bring the team back from an early two-run deficit. Harmony Palmer (FR, Oceanside [pictured]), the SCIAC Player of the Year, went three for three in the game, scored two runs and drove in three. She hit a three run home run in the fourth inning to put the Athenas up 8-4. Michelle Harvey (JR, San Diego) and Gizelle Pera (JR, Los Angeles) reached base five times combined and both scored twice. Emily Lopez (SO, Fresno) was three for four with an RBI. Amanda Banducci (SO, Belmont) went all seven innings in the circle to earn her 11th win of the season.
CMS and Linfield faced each other earlier this season in Claremont with CMS sweeping both games of a doubleheader, 3-2 and 7-3. The winner of Friday's game will play the winner of the #6 St. Thomas v. #2 Illinois Wesleyan game on Saturday at 4:00. The loser will play the winner of the #3 Simpson v. #7 Fontbonne game on Saturday at noon.