Offense Prevails in Athenas' Shutout Over Linfield

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Athenas' bats came alive on Friday afternoon in a 7-0 shutout over the Linfield Wildcats. Four Athenas had multi-hit games including Reeve Grobecker (CMC) who led the charge going 4-4 at the dish. Anna Gurr struck out eight in her second win of the season.

The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team avenged their two losses to Linfield last season with overpowering offense and a dominating performance in the circle from Gurr.

The Athenas batted around in the home half of the first inning, plating four on five hits. Singles from Grobecker and Molly Spaniac (CMC) led off the inning. Chloe Amarilla (CMC) reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Grobecker. Carly Roleder (CMC) then legged out a bunt single to load the bases. Kawai Scanlan (SC) ripped a single up the middle to bring in one and put the Athenas up 2-0. Jessica Fox (CMC) beat out an infield single to knock in one and an errant throw to first on the play brought in the fourth run of the inning.

In the top of the second, a diving catch in center from Scanlan and two strikeouts from Gurr kept the Wildcats off the board.

CMS continued to lead 4-0 heading into the bottom of the third. Scanlan singled up the middle to get the momentum going in the bottom of the third. Maddie Valdez (CMC) doubled off the left field wall to bring in Scanlan to grow the Athena advantage to 5-0.

The freshmen got it done in the bottom of the fourth, starting with Spaniac who reached on a fielder's choice. Scanlan collected her third hit of the day, knocking in Spaniac and stretching the lead to 6-0.

Grobecker continued her dominate afternoon at the plate, singling to right in the home half of the sixth. She would later come around to score on a RBI double from Amarilla to give CMS a 7-0 lead.

Linfield attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh inning with back-to-back singles and a double-steal to put two in scoring position for the Wildcats. Gurr silenced the threat, striking out two before getting Cheyenne Fletcher to fly out to right for the final out of the game,

Gurr went the distance to earn her second win of the season and improve to 2-1. The senior threw 100 pitches in the shutout and struck out eight while not walking a batter. She scattered just six hits, all for singles, in her seven innings.

Grobecker's four hits all came to lead off innings, setting the tone for the Athena offense throughout the game. Amarilla and Scanlan each logged three hits and Scanlan led the team with two RBIs. Spaniac had two base hits.

With the victory, the Athenas improve to 3-1 on the season. They continue SCIAC play tomorrow when Whittier College comes to town for a doubleheader beginning at noon.