Amarilla Tosses No-No in Doubleheader Sweep of Hamline

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball extended their win-streak to 10 games after sweeping their doubleheader with Hamline on Saturday afternoon. Chloe Amarilla (CMC) highlighted the day for the Athenas with her first-career no-hitter. The Athenas run-ruled the Pipers in both games, taking Game One 10-0 and Game Two 8-0, both in five innings.

Amarilla held the Pipers to just two hits in her nine innings pitched, earning her sixth and seventh wins of the season. The junior did her part from both the circle and at the plate, extending her hit-streak to 16 games with three hits on the day while knocking in two.

Game One: CMS defeats Hamline 10-0 (5 innings)

CMS outhit Hamline 11-2 in the first half of the twin bill and used a big five-run second inning to give themselves a comfortable lead early in the game. They scored in all four innings at the plate.

The Athenas jumped on the board first in the bottom of the first inning. Molly Spaniac (CMC) singled through the right side and advanced to third on a double by Amarilla. Both scored on a ball hit by Briana Halle (CMC) to put CMS up 2-0.

CMS put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the second, scoring five runs in the inning, all with two outs. Kylie Hetzel (HMC) and Reeve Grobecker (CMC) got things going with back-to-back singles. Two-straight walks to Amarilla and Carly Roleder forced in a run before an infield single from Halle brought in another. Kawai Scanlan knocked in two with a single through the right side, and Maddie Valdez capped off the scoring with an RBI single to left. After two innings, the Athenas led 7-0.

Hetzel led off the home half of the third with an infield single before Spaniac tripled to knock in a run. Spaniac later scored on a double from Amarilla to push the CMS advantage to 9-0.

Megan Mendez reached on an error with two outs in the bottom of the fourth and came around to score on a base hit from Hetzel, extending the Athenas' lead to 10-0 after four frames.

Spaniac and Amarilla led the Athenas with two hits each in the game. Halle and Scanlan each had two RBI. On the bases, Grobecker and Mendez each had a stolen base.

Amarilla allowed just two hits in four innings and Megan Perron (CMC) closed out the game, allowing one baserunner in her only inning of work.

Game Two: CMS defeats Hamline 8-0 (5 innings)

Amarilla continued her dominance in Game Two, only getting stronger as the day went on. After allowing two hits in Game One, the junior tossed her first-career no-no in the five inning run-rule win in Game Two.

"I didn't notice they didn't have any hits until late in the game and just wanted to see how long I could keep it going," Amarilla said.

She had plenty of run support from the offense. The Athenas continued their strong day at the plate in the bottom of the second when Valdez knocked in Scanlan with an RBI double.

The Athenas put up a four-spot in the home half of the third. Jessica Fox (CMC) singled through the right side to lead off the inning and advanced on a sacrifice bunt from Hetzel. Three-straight singles from Grobecker, Spaniac, and Amarilla brought in three runs before Roleder brought in one more with a sacrifice fly. CMS added one more run on an error to finish the inning leading 5-0.

After being held off the board in the fourth, CMS ended the game in a run-rule walk-off in the bottom of the fifth. Amarilla walked and advanced on a single from Roleder. Halle forced an error, allowing Amarilla to score and putting two on for Scanlan who promptly singled to right center to knock in another run, putting CMS up 7-0. Savannah Green (CMC) was called upon to run for Halle and broke for home on a ground ball Valdez, scoring on an error at the plate and ending the game with an 8-0 final score.

Grobecker, Roleder, and Scanlan all had two hits in the game.

Amarilla struck out two batters and explained her thought process throughout the game.

"I tried to attack the zone more and make them hit the ball on the ground; I was looking for groundballs instead of strikeouts. Today I said 'I'm just going to pitch my best,' and my defense really stepped up for me," Amarilla said.

The junior is getting things done in the circle and at the plate. With hits in each game, she extends her hit-streak to 16 games and has hit safely in 21 of 22 games on the season. She has also picked up seven wins in the circle against no losses.

"The reason they're both working well, I think, is that I've been able to separate them. If I'm not pitching so well, I don't take it with me when I hit," Amarilla said. "The same goes for if I'm not hitting well, I don't take it with me when I pitch."

The Athenas improve to a record of 18-4, and head coach Gina Oaks Garcia likes what she sees from her team at this point in the season.

"They are all going together at the right point of the season and they all have each other's back. We can call on anyone and everybody is ready to play a part," Oaks said. "It's just so fun to see them at this point in time in that state of mind."

The Athenas jump back into SCIAC play next weekend when they head across the street to take on Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday afternoon. The doubleheader with the Sagehens is slated to start at noon.