CMS Softball Comes Up Clutch in 3-2 Nine-Inning Win Over Cal Lutheran

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Kaili Aqui threw out the potential winning run at the plate in the bottom of the seventh, and Rachel Sapirstein had the game-winning RBI single with two outs in the ninth, as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team opened its three-game series with Cal Lutheran with a 3-2 win to remain undefeated in SCIAC play at 5-0.

CMS now stands at 14-6 on the year, and has won four of its five SCIAC games by one run, including two in extra innings. Cal Lutheran slips to 7-9 overall and 4-2 in the SCIAC with the loss. 

Then Athenas trailed 2-1 heading into the seventh inning, and came up big on the offensive end, as Maya Loper drew a key leadoff walk pinch-hitting for Delanie Stevens. Emma Suh then singled to move Stevens to second, and after an Aqui sacrifice bunt, Giselle Lai grounded to second and Stevens was able to beat the throw home with the tying run. 

Cal Lutheran nearly responded in the bottom half as a leadoff double and a walk put two runners on. With two outs and the go-ahead run still on second, Aqui fielded a single to left and came up firing, throwing a one-hopper to Sarah Loper behind the plate, who applied the tag to send the game to extra innings. 

The Regals threated again in the bottom of the eighth with runners on second and third and one out, but Ella Yerkes got out of the jam with an infield pop-up and a strikeout to send the game to the ninth. After Suh reached on an error, and Aqui had another successful sacrifice, Suh moved to third on a wild pitch and then came home as Sapirstein went the other way, getting the ball to drop just in front of a diving effort from the Cal Lutheran right fielder to make the score 3-2.

Yerkes then made sure the lead held up, striking out the side in the bottom of the ninth to get the win in relief and move the Athenas to 5-0. 

Sapirstein finished the game 3-for-5, while Destiny Garcia (3-for-4) also had three hits and Suh was 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Yerkes threw five innings of relief to get the win, allowing just three hits and no runs, while striking out nine. 

The two teams will complete their three-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader at Athena Field, starting at 12 p.m.