Gurr Shuts Out Top-Seeded Leopards in Opening Game of SCIAC Tournament

LA VERNE, Calif. – The fourth-seeded Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball teamed went head-to-head with the top-seeded La Verne Leopards in a rematch of last year's SCIAC Championship game in the opening game of the 2018 SCIAC Tournament, and came away from the pitchers' dual with a 2-0 win. Anna Gurr (CMC) tossed her 29th career shutout en route to the victory, allowing just five hits while striking out four in seven innings.

Gurr dominated throughout the contest, striking out the side in the bottom of the second and another in the bottom of the third. The Athenas ran into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth when the Leopards tried to put together a two-out rally. After Reeve Grobecker (CMC) made a diving play deep into foul territory down the right field line, back-to-back base hits put two in scoring position for La Verne. A ground ball to Carly Roleder (CMC) at short got CMS out of the jam.

Jessica Fox (CMC) sparked the Athenas' offense in the top of the fifth, leading the inning off with a double into the gap in right center. Rachel Perley (HMC) fooled the defense, squaring to bunt then pulling back to poke an infield single between the first and second basemen. A walk to Grobecker loaded the bases before Molly Spaniac (CMC) walked to bring in the first run of the contest. Chloe Amarilla (CMC) stepped to the plate next and put the ball in play to force the La Verne defense to act quickly. The third baseman stepped on the bag, forcing Grobecker out on the play, but threw the ball away trying to go to the plate which allowed Perley to score. CMS carried their 2-0 lead through the remainder of the game.

The defense continued to shine behind Gurr. In the bottom of the fifth, Amarilla made a grab against the dugout fence along the third baseline. The Athenas did not commit an error in the game.

Gurr tossed a gem, going the distnace for her 16th win of the season. Spaniac led the offense with two hits.

With the win, the Athenas advance to play the No. 3 seed in Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. In the double-elimination format, the loser of CMS and Pomona-Pitzer will play in an elimination game at 4 p.m. The winner will return to play in the Championship Series on Sunday at noon.