Gurr Leads Athenas to Win in Split Against Redlands

REDLANDS, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team split with Redlands on Friday, taking Game One 2-0 before dropping the second half of the twin bill by a final of 8-4. Anna Gurr (CMC) tossed a gem to shut out the Bulldogs in the first game of the day but Redlands bit back in Game Two, scoring six runs in the first two innings.

Game One: CMS defeats Redlands 2-0

Pitching reigned through Game One with the first four innings passing by without a run scored. CMS managed just three hits through the first four innings of the contest. 

Jessica Fox (CMC) knocked in the first run of the game, breaking the 0-0 tie in the top of the fifth. Briana Halle (CMC) led the inning off with a single into shallow right field and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Kawai Scanlan (SC). Megan Mendez (CMC) took the place of Halle on the bases and advanced to third on a fly ball off the bat of Maddie Valdez (CMC). Fox came to the plate next and ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Mendez and giving the Athenas a 1-0 lead.

Gurr held the Bulldogs hitless through the first four and a third, surrendering the first Bulldog hit in the form of a seeing-eye single into shallow right. A single up the middle threatened to tie the game, put a perfect throw from Scanlan in center to Valdez behind the plate nailed the runner, keeping CMS in front 1-0 after five.

CMS kept the momentum going in the top of the sixth with a bunt base hit from Reeve Grobecker (CMC). Molly Spaniac (CMC) followed up with bloop single to left and Carly Roleder (CMC) lined a single into right center to plate the second CMS run.

Gurr continued to dominate in the circle, giving up only one more hit to finish off the game. The Athenas hung on to win the pitchers' dual 2-0.

Spaniac led the Athenas at the plate with two hits in Game One. Fox and Roleder each had an RBI.

In the circle, Gurr went the distance while striking out three and giving up just three hits while not walking a batter to earn her 10th win of the season. 

Game Two: Redlands defeats CMS 8-4

The Bulldogs came out looking for a fight in Game Two, putting up six in the first two innings.

Chloe Amarilla (CMC) took the mound in the second half of the day's doubleheader. Two extra base hits in the home half of the first led to a Bulldog run, giving Redlands a 1-0 advantage early.

Two walks followed by two singles and a home run spelled trouble for CMS, adding five to the Bulldogs' total. Megan Perron (CMC) took over on the mound and got two quick outs to get the Athenas out of the inning.

CMS got on the board in the top of the fourth, sparked by back-to-back singles from Scanlan and Valdez. Fox knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly for her second RBI of the day, cutting the deficit to 5-1.

Redlands answered back with two on a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth, upping their lead to 8-1.

The Athenas mounted a comeback in the top of the fifth. Spaniac walked and advanced on a passed ball then scored on a single by Amarilla. Roleder earned a free pass via a walk and Halle moved both into scoring position with a groundout. Valdez walked to load the bases with two outs and Fox came up big, yet again, singling down the right field line to knock in two.

The comeback was not enough, however, as CMS fell to the Bulldogs 8-4 to split the doubleheader. The Athenas win the season series, taking three of four from Redlands.

Amarilla led CMS in Game Two with two hits, extending her hit-streak to 20 consecutive games. Fox logged a hit and three RBI, giving her four knocked in on the day.

CMS now sits at a record of 19-7 on the season and 8-6 on SCIAC play, putting them in fourth place in the conference standings.

The Athenas face Cal Lutheran at home tomorrow in another SCIAC doubleheader. First pitch is slated for noon.