Athenas Split Doubleheader At Home With Poets

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team played host in conference doubleheader action against the Whittier College Poets, Saturday, March 30, on Athena Field. The Athenas won game one 7-3, but fell in game two, 4-3. CMS is now 19-9 overall and 11-5 in SCIAC play.

Game 1: CMS 7, Whittier 3
The Athenas came out swinging in the first three innings as they scored six runs on eight hits. Two of those runs came in the bottom of the first inning when freshman outfielder Tara Robinson walked to lead off the game and then scored on a triple to right by senior infielder Harmony Palmer. Freshman infielder Katie Savard then doubled to score Palmer as CMS jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. CMS added another run in the bottom of the third to go up 3-0.

With CMS up 3-0, Whittier knotted the game up at 3-3 in the top of the third with three unearned runs. CMS answered with three runs in the bottom of the third inning to regain the lead at 6-3. Junior infielder Megan Latta roped a line drive into left center field that scored freshman outfielder Carlene Roberts. Robinson then singled through the left side of the infield that plated Latta. After a wild pitch, junior catcher Morgan Beltz pushed across another run for the Athenas.

CMS added one more run in sixth inning to make the score 7-3. Sophomore pitcher Hayley Schultz (14-3), allowed three unearned runs on nine hits and struck out three in seven innings of work.

Palmer was 2-for-2 with the triple in the first and a single in the sixth. She also had an RBI and scored twice. Savard also had two hits and a team-high two RBI.

Game 1 box score:  http://www.cmsathletics.org/sports/sball/2012-13/boxscores/20130330_f9qs.xml

Game 2: Whittier 4, CMS 3
The Athenas put up a three-spot on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning to go up 3-0. Palmer connected with an RBI double to left center field that scored freshman outfielder Janelle Shiozaki from first base. Savard followed with a single that scored both Palmer and Robinson to take a 3-0 lead.

The lead didn't last for long as Whittier pushed four runs across in the top half of the fourth inning. Mercedez Cundiff had the first two-run single for Whittier. Alyse Gutierrrez, the ninth hitter in the Poets order, then lined a bases clearing double to left center with two outs which proved to be the game-winner as they jumped ahead 4-3.

CMS freshman pitcher Shannon O'Neill (5-3) went four innings and gave up four runs on seven hits and struck out two. Schultz pitched in relief and threw three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit and no runs.

The Athenas next play a doubleheader against Cal Lutheran, Friday, April 5 starting 2:00 p.m.

Game 2 box score:  http://www.cmsathletics.org/sports/sball/2012-13/boxscores/20130330_5frp.xml