Perley Homers in Game One as Athenas Split with Whittier

WHITTIER, Calif. – The first half of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball's doubleheader on Saturday started with a bang as the Athenas run-ruled the Poets, winning 11-3 in five innings. Rachel Perley's (HMC) first-career big fly added to the excitement as Anna Gurr (CMC) earned her 11th victory of the season. In Game Two, late errors spoiled the sweep for CMS and the Athenas fell 3-2.

Game One: CMS defeats Whittier 11-3 (Five innings)

Jessica Fox (CMC) and Perley were on fire in game one, each knocking in three runs to lead the Athenas to an 11-3 win. Perley did her damage with one swing, launching her first-career home run; a three-run shot to left center. CMS put up five runs in the top of the fifth en route to their 20th win of the season.

The Athenas jumped on the board early, striking for one in the top of the first. Reeve Grobecker (CMC) got the game started with a leadoff infield single before advancing to third with heads-up base running on a sacrifice bunt by Molly Spaniac (CMC). Scoring on an error by the catcher, Grobecker put the Athenas up 1-0.

CMS kept on rolling in the top of the second, plating two more runs. Briana Halle (CMC) led off with a single up the middle and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Kawai Scanlan (SC). A groundout by Carly Roleder (CMC) moved Halle to third before an RBI infield single by Fox extended the lead to 2-0. Fox stole second and came around to score on an error to give CMS a 3-0 lead after the top of the second.

A three-run top of the fourth doubled the Athenas' lead to 6-0. CMS took advantage of three costly Whittier errors, scoring three times on just one hit.

Gurr allowed her only run of the first game in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double, and CMS headed into the fifth holding a comfortable 6-1 lead.

Not done yet, the Athenas added five runs to their Game One total in the top of the fifth. Halle drew a one-out walk and was lifted for a pinch runner in Megan Mendez (CMC). Scanlan singled up the middle before Roleder earned a walk to load the bases for Fox. The freshman stayed hot at the plate, doubling to center to plate two and push the advantage to 8-1. This set the stage for Perley's big hit. The junior stepped to the plate with two on and one out and sent the ball over the fence in left center to put the Athenas up by 10.

Megan Perron (CMC) took the mound in the top of the fifth looking to close out the game for CMS. After allowing a two-run home run, a pop-up to short ended the game with CMS in front 11-3.

Scanlan and Fox each tallied two hits in the contest and Fox and Perley each knocked in three runs to combine for all of the Athenas' RBI in the game. Scanlan, Roleder, Fox, and Perley all scored twice.

Gurr earned her 11th win after tossing four innings and striking out two.

Game Two: Whittier defeats CMS 3-2

The momentum did not carry over into the second half of the doubleheader for CMS. The Athenas trailed 1-0 until scoring two in the top of the sixth off an RBI single from Perron, the first hit of her career. Four errors allowed two Poet runs to score in the bottom of the sixth and CMS was unable to answer in the top of the seventh, falling 3-2.

The contest was scoreless until Whittier scratched a run across on an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead.

Perron came up big for the Athenas in the top of the sixth. Roleder singled up the middle to lead off the inning before Scanlan reached on an error. Perley wore a pitch and was awarded first to load the bases with two outs. Perron was called on to pinch hit and delivered, sending a single down the left field line to knock in two and give CMS a 2-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth.

The Poets capitalized on four costly CMS errors in the bottom of the sixth to plate two and regain the lead at 3-2. The Athenas were unable to answer in the top of the seventh and dropped Game Two to split the day.

With the split, CMS falls to 9-9 in SCIAC play and 20-10 overall. They are back in action on Friday, Apr. 13 when they host Chapman in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.