Split with Cal Lu on Senior Day

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team split with Cal Lutheran in the final home double header of the regular season. The Athenas (20-16, 17-9) won game one handily, 9-0 in five innings, but then fell 2-1 to the Regals (16-18, 13-13) in an extra innings affair.

Before the game, the lone senior in the Class of 2017, Alexa Heydenberk (CMC), was recognized for her four-year career and dedication to Athena Softball.

The Athenas jumped out to an early lead after four hits in a row. Junior Carly Roleder (CMC) drove in sophomores Ande Troutman (CMC) and Reeve Grobecker (CMC) with a scorched single down the left field line. Then, sophomore Abigail Metsch (SC) stroked the fifth hit of the inning out to left for another RBI to score classmate Chloe Amarilla (CMC).

As always, Anna Gurr (CMC) relied on her defense to make plays behind her. The junior ace caused 11 groundouts in the game and no errors were committed by the Athenas.

CMS continued the rally into the second inning with three more hits. The top of the Athenas' lineup was a perfect 10-for-10 in the game. Roleder added one more to her growing RBI total on the day for CMS to take the 4-0 lead after two innings.

The Athenas stayed hungry in the fourth inning and tacked on five more to go up 9-0. Metsch drew a leadoff walk and her pinch runner, Hayley Giffin (CMC) came around to score off Grobecker's single through the left side. Troutman went deep for a sacrifice fly and then Amarilla drove in Grobecker and freshman Marissa Valdovinos (SC) with a big double over the left fielder's head. Roleder went the other way and knocked a double off the wall in right center for her fourth RBI of the game.

Gurr earned six more outs for her 14^th win on the season as CMS won the shortened game, 9-0.

Game 1 Box Score

CLU got on the board in the top of the first with a sacrifice fly by Courtney Sooy scoring Scooter Rapisardi. Then in the top of the second, Abbigael Howard led off with a triple out to center. Sensing a shift in momentum, Gurr entered the game for CMS to quell the rally. Shortly thereafter, she erased the threat, gunning out the runner on third after a ball was hit right back to her.

The Athenas evened the score in the bottom of the third. Valdovinos smacked a one-out triple past the diving left fielder and then was easily scored on a single up the middle by Troutman.

Defensive plays highlighted the middle innings of the game. Heydenberk made a catch on the run in the left center gap for the first out of the fourth inning. In the sixth, CLU's Olivia Leyva got on with  smooth single out to left center but was caught off when Courtney Sooy lined one right to first baseman Briana Halle's (CMC) glove for the double play. Mckenna Pellerin returned the favor in the bottom of the frame, catching Roleder off first base after a line drive from Halle.

The game remained tied going into the seventh. Heydenberk hit a one-out triple to center but then was called out two plays later at the plate.

The game continued to the 10^th during which the international tie breaker rule comes into effect. Cal Lu laid down a classic sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third base but then Gurr struck out a Regal pinch hitter for a big second out. Mikaela Mayhew was the hero for the Regals and drove in the runner from third with an infield single to the right side to take the 2-1 lead.

CMS was unable to muster an equalizer in the bottom of the inning, leaving the Regals with the bigger number on the scoreboard for the split on the day.

Game 2 Box Score

The Athenas are currently tied for first place in conference standings due to La Verne being swept at Whittier. Tomorrow, CMS heads down to Chapman (18-18, 12-14) for the final games of the regular season with a regular season title on the line.

By Emily Nordhoff
Sports Information Director

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