Halle Leads Athenas with Four Hits in Senior Day Split

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team honored seniors Carly Roleder (CMC), Briana Halle (CMC), and Anna Gurr (CMC) in a Senior Day celebration prior to Friday's doubleheader against Pomona-Pitzer. Following the day's festivities, the Athena's split the final home games of the season, dropping Game One 3-0 before coming back to take Game Two 5-1.

Game One was a pitchers' dual featuring two of the top pitchers in the SCIAC, Pomona-Pitzer's Liz Rodarte, and the winningest pitcher in CMS history, Anna Gurr. The Sagehens emerged victorious in that battle, defeating CMS 3-0.

Game Two was a different story, with the CMS offense rallying behind starter Chloe Amarilla (CMC). The Athenas outhit their rivals 10-2. Three different Athenas tallied three hits, including Halle who brought her total on the day to four.

Game One: Pomona-Pitzer defeats CMS 3-0

The Sagehens got on the board first, getting a run in the top of the second. Gurr worked the Athenas out of a bases-loaded jam but the damage had been done.

CMS failed to put up runs as the contest continued with the defense doing their part to hold the Sagehens at one. Jessica Fox (CMC) made an impressive play in the top of the fifth, taking a hit away with a throw to first from right field.

In the top of the seventh, Pomona-Pitzer strung together a pair of singles to lead off the inning before another single and a sacrifice fly brought in the pair to push their lead to 3-0.

CMS was unable to score in the home half of the seventh and fell 3-0.

Halle led the offense with half of the Athenas' four hits. Reeve Grobecker (CMC) had a hit and a stolen base.

Gurr went the distance, allowing three runs on just four hits with two strikeouts.

Game Two: CMS defeats Pomona-Pitzer 5-1

Pomona-Pitzer, again, struck first in Game Two. The Sagehens put up a run in the top of the first with the help of two walks and a wild pitch. Amarilla settled in after the first and the offense went to work.

Amarilla did not allow a hit through the next five innings and CMS evened the score in the bottom of the third. Kylie Hetzel (HMC) got things going for the Athenas after reaching on an error by the catcher. Molly Spaniac (CMC) clutched up for a double into the gap in left center, knocking in Hetzel to tie the game at one apiece.

Halle lined a base hit up the middle to lead-off the bottom of the fourth for the Athenas and took second on a walk to Maddie Valdez (CMC). Hetzel came to the plate for the second consecutive inning and sent a flare into shallow right center for an RBI base hit to knock in Halle and give CMS a 2-1 advantage.

The bats stayed hot for the Athenas in the bottom of the fifth, starting with a single from Spaniac. She then took second on a throwing error by the pitcher as Amarilla reached on a fielder's choice. A single to left from Roleder loaded the bases for Halle who brought in a run on an error by the Sagehen defense. Back-to-back singles from the freshman combo of Kawai Scanlan (SC) and Valdez brought in a pair of runs to push the lead to 5-1.

The defense was solid behind Amarilla. In the top of the sixth, a walk was erased with a double play turned by Hetzel, Grobecker, and Halle to end the inning. Fox ended the game in the top of the seventh, snatching a line drive to right out of the air to send CMS away with a win.

Spaniac, Halle, and Scanlan each had a pair of hits, giving Halle a total of four on the day.

Amarilla earned her 11th win after going six innings and allowing only one hit while striking out three. Gurr came on in relief to close out the final home game of her career.

The Athenas travel to Thousand Oaks, Calif. tomorrow to finish off the regular season with a twin bill against Cal Lutheran. Game One is slated for noon.