Pinch hitters contribute to sweep of Bulldogs

CLAREMONT, Calif. – On an uncharacteristically cloudy and windy Friday, the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team earned two wins over SCIAC rivals Redlands (3-1, 10-7). The Athenas out-hit the Bulldogs in each game combining for 18 hits on the day.

Game one was a scoreless pitchers' duel through three innings. Redlands' first hit came in the top of the fourth as AJ Carrasco tripled down the left field line to lead off the inning. Carrasco scored on a sacrifice bunt, putting a run on the board for the first time in the day.

The CMS bats were quiet until the bottom of the fifth when senior Katie Savard (CMC) got on with a leadoff single. Three pinch hitters stepped to the plate in the inning and were all successful. Sophomore Briana Halle (CMC) got on with a single and then junior Alexa Heydenberk (CMC) drove a triple out to left center, giving CMS two runs. The Athenas scratched one more in the inning with the RBI went to classmate Melanie Carlson (CMC).

Ultimately, those were the only runs scored by both teams with Redlands stranding two runners in the top of the seventh. For CMS, sophomore Anna Gurr (CMC) went the distance and earned her fifth win on the season striking out three and only allowing one earned run.

The teams combined for 23 hits in game two including seven for extra bases.

The Bulldogs put up a crooked number in the top of the first with RBIs for Vicki King, Dani Santos and Ursyla Baumgarten but then CMS answered in the bottom of the frame.

Savard recorded her third hit of the day to load the bases for Halle, this time as the designated player. Last weekend, Halle had a pinch hit grand slam to lift CMS over Cal Lutheran 8-0. In this at bat she came up big again as she lined a hit into right field and scored all three runners, cutting UR's lead to 4-3.

The teams traded runs in the third with Halle driving in freshman Victoria Huynh (CMC). Halle ended up with four hits and four RBIs on the day including going 3-for-3 in the second game.

Outstanding center field play captured the attention of the crowd as Carrasco came in to make a diving catch on a ball from Abigail Metsch (SCR) and then Tara Robinson (CMC) went back on a deep fly from Vicki King in the top of the fourth. Sophomore Carly Roleder (CMC) dove for a ball up the middle and came up with Sports Center-eque throw from her knees in the fifth.

The Athenas put together a big five-run fourth inning to go ahead and then break the game open. Heydenberk tallied her third RBI on the day with a sacrifice fly and then Metsch drove in Roleder and Robinson. Senior catcher Carlene Roberts (CMC) capped off the inning with a bases loaded single up the middle to score two more.

As darkness descended, the game was called after the sixth inning with CMS up 10-7.

The Athenas (8-3-1, 7-1 SCIAC) host cross-street rivals Pomona-Pitzer (2-7, 1-3 SCIAC) tomorrow, March 5, in a double header beginning at 12 p.m.

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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