Pitching prowess leads Athenas to clean sweep of Cal Lu

CLAREMONT, Calif. – In all four games against Cal Lutheran this season, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps invoked the eight-run rule as each ended before seven innings were completed. Today, on the hot Friday afternoon, the Athenas beat the Regals 10-1 (5 inn.) and 8-0 (5 inn.) to remain at the top of the conference standings with a 17-2 SCIAC record.

The Athenas welcomed senior Shannon O'Neill (CMC) back into the circle for her first start since Apr. 19, 2013 and first win since Apr. 12, 2013. O'Neill struck out six in four innings of work without allowing an earned run.

The game two starter, senior Molly Rubidoux (CMC) pitched all five innings and has now put together three consecutive scoreless performances. After the first Regal hitter singled right back at Rubidoux, she retired the next 15 batters to finish out the game for the one-hit shutout. In the top of the fifth inning, Rubidoux even made all three outs herself with two assists and a strikeout. The ball never left the infield in the entirety of the game.

Numerous Athenas had standout performances at the plate. Freshman Abigail Metsch (SCR) was a perfect 5-for-5 with five singles plus a walk on the day. In the first game, Metsch scored on a wild pitch in game one to put the fourth run on the board for CMS and ultimately scored four times over both games.

Freshman Victoria Huynh (CMC) was the team's RBI leader on the day with five: three in game one and two in the second. She drove in CMS' first runs with a classic single up the middle with the bases loaded, scoring Metsch and junior Alexa Heydenberk (CMC). In the first inning of game two, Huynh got on with a single, was bunted over to second and then senior Katie Savard (CMC) smacked a towering two-run homer over the center field fence.

Senior Tara Robinson (CMC) went 5-for-7 over both games, wowing the crowd with her speed getting down to first and around the bases. With the bases loaded in the third inning of game one, Robinson scored from first on a clutch two-out double by Briana Halle (CMC) to right-center.

Last but not least, freshman Rachel Perley (HMC) got her first hit of the year (and her collegiate career) with a two-RBI single on a pinch hit.

The only run CLU scored in the day was in the first inning of game one, capitalizing on an Athena error that allowed the ball to get all the way out to the fence. Hannah Brown was the only Regal to put together a multi-hit day with one in each game.

With the wins, CMS improves to 23-6-1, 16-2 in SCIAC, one game ahead of La Verne in the conference standings. Tomorrow, the Athenas travel across the street to face Pomona-Pitzer (9-21, 6-12 SCIAC) for a double header at 12 and 2 p.m.

Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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