One-run win in sweep of Redlands

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team continued on its roll in SCIAC play with its third consecutive sweep, this time taking Redlands 6-2 and 2-1 at home. The Athenas (14-12, 12-4) played errorless defense behind junior Anna Gurr (CMC) and sophomore Chloe Amarilla (CMC) to edge out the Bulldogs (12-18, 8-10). With the wins, CMS is now in a tie for first place in conference standings with La Verne.

The Athenas got two on base early in the bottom of the first as sophomore Reeve Grobecker (CMC) and Amarilla singled and then junior Carly Roleder (CMC) walked to load the bases. The next CMS hitters kept Redlands' left fielder busy as junior Briana Halle (CMC) brought in Grobecker with a sacrifice fly, senior Alexa Heydenberk (CMC) dropped in an RBI single and then freshman Alison Jue (CMC) came up with a big two-out double. All told, the Athenas scored four runs in the breakout inning.

In the third, Heydenberk led off the inning with a well-struck ball out to right field that looked sure to drop in for at least a single. But UR's right fielder Jennifer Ng came up with an excellent catch to quell the Athenas' excitement. Similarly, CMS shortstop Abigail Metsch (SC) dove and came up with a catch on a hot line drove off Marissa Romero's bat in the fourth inning.

Metsch got things going in the bottom of the fifth for CMS with a one-out single. Anticipating another scoring opportunity, freshman Hayley Giffin (CMC) came in to run for Metsch. Heydenberk got on with her second hit of the day and advanced Giffin into scoring position. Jue earned her third RBI of the day with a single through the left side, scoring Giffin from second, to give the Athenas the 5-0 lead.

Redlands got two back in the sixth with back-to-back doubles by Summer Smith and Lali Garza and then a single up by middle by Ursyla Baumgarten.

CMS added an insurance run in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Ande Troutman (CMC) led off the inning with a shot of the wall in dead center for a double. Troutman was scored by Roleder shortly thereafter and CMS held the 6-2 lead for the remainder of the game. Gurr earned her 10^th win on the season and struck out six Bulldogs in the process.

Game 1 Box Score

The Athenas returned to the diamond just as sharp at the beginning of game two. Roleder showed off her arm strength with a lightning fast double play to end the top of the first and then came up with the Athenas' first RBI in the bottom of the inning. CMS' only hits of the game came in the first. Grobecker led off the game with a sharp infield single and then Halle knocked in Troutman to put the Athenas up 2-0.

Amarilla went 4.2 innings and allowed just three hits to earn her third win of the season. Gurr entered the game after Redlands manufactured a run in the top of the fifth, and then held them scoreless for the rest of the game.

The Bulldogs knocked again in the sixth as Garza led off with a single and then her pinch runner advanced to third on infield groundouts. Gurr silenced the threat with a timely strikeout to end the inning and stranding the runner on third base.

UR's Nicole Stanzione pitched five shutout innings against the Athenas, but the two-run lead earned in the first inning ended up being enough for the narrow 2-1 victory as Gurr notched her fourth save of the season.

Game 2 Box Score

The Athenas travel to Occidental Friday, April 14 for games as 2 and 4 p.m. before returning to Claremont the next day. On Saturday, CMS hosts La Verne at 12 and 2 p.m.

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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