Lopez Hits Four, Team Hits Seven in Home Run Derby at Cal Lu
Senior Emily Lopez (pictured) ranks third in all-time NCAA Division III Softball records after crushing three home runs in one game Saturday against California Lutheran University.
Lopez hit four round-trippers on the day in a career and CMS Softball best-ever double-header performance going 6-7 (.857), 8-9 OB% (.889), scoring 6 runs and driving in 8.
Lopez' offense stunned the Regals by itself, but in combination with her teammates' equally prolific hitting, Cal Lu was defenseless.
Seniors Emily Nordhoff and Rebecca King both went yard (Nordhoff twice) to set a program mark of 7 blasts on the day. Nordhoff's game one totals were a lofty 4-5, with 3 runs scored and 4 RBIs (coming from two 2-run crushes). King's day totaled out at 5-7, with 4 runs scored and 4 RBIs.
Witnessing 7 home runs on any day in collegiate softball ranks as highly memorable. And it was. King's monster shot in game two which disappeared high over the scoreboard was a particularly devastating whack that cemented the demolition.
At day's end, the Athenas had compiled 26 hits (20 for 40 in game one; 6 for 27 in game two) and 22 runs. 7 players had multiple hit games. 7 players crossed the plate during the day, three of them more than three times each.
As the hits keep coming, the squad continues to capitalize at the plate and on the basepaths drawing 9 walks to only 4 strike-outs over 14 innings, while stealing 3 bases.
Hayley Schultz continues to lead the defensive effort from the circle contributing to the game 1 victory and throwing the entire second half of the twin bill striking out 5, walking 0 and giving up just 1 run.
As CMS heads into their final week of conference play, Lopez leads SCIAC in batting average and doubles, ranking second in RBIs, home runs and total bases. Schultz leads the conference in strike outs and ranks second in ERA and wins.
You can catch the Athenas in their final weekend of Regular Season action on Friday at Pomona-Pitzer (2 pm) and on Sunday at home hosting the University of Redlands for Senior Day.