Valdez Knocks in Four in Twin Bill Sweep of Chapman

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Athenas came away with two wins after defeating the Chapman Panthers in both halves of a doubleheader on Friday. The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps offense was out in force in Game One, giving starter Anna Gurr (CMC) a cushion to work with. The cushion proved unneeded with Gurr tossing six scoreless innings in the 7-0 victory. Carly Roleder (CMC) and Maddie Valdez (CMC) each knocked in a pair in the win.

CMS completed the sweep in Game Two, getting on the board in the bottom of the first with an RBI from Roleder. After the Panthers tied things up in the top of the fourth, Valdez came up clutch with RBI doubles in the fourth and sixth to put the Athenas back on top.

Game One: CMS defeats Chapman 7-0

CMS struck for seven runs in a span of three innings, scoring three in the second and third before one final insurance run in the fourth. Gurr did her part from the circle, allowing just two hits and striking out five.

Roleder earned a free pass via a walk to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Briana Halle (CMC) put down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to advance Roleder into scoring position before Kawai Scanlan (SC) and Valdez ripped back-to-back RBI doubles to give CMS the first lead of the game. Rachel Perley (HMC) came to the plate next with two outs and a runner in scoring position and laced a line drive through the left side to plate Valdez, giving the Athenas a 3-0 lead after two.

Gurr was efficient through her outing. In the top of the third, the senior lefty needed just four pitches to retire the side and get her team back in the dugout.

The offense continued to thrive in the home half of the third. Reeve Grobecker legged out a bunt single to begin the inning and Molly Spaniac (CMC) knocked her in with a triple over the right fielder's head. Two batters later, Roleder followed up with a triple of her own into the right field corner to push the Athenas' advantage to 5-0. Valdez kept the inning alive with an RBI base hit through the left side, bringing Roleder home to put CMS in front 6-0.

Looking to add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, Grobecker logged her second hit of the game with a single to shallow right field. With two outs, Roleder laced a single through the left side to add an extra insurance run for CMS. After four innings, the Athenas held a 7-0 advantage.

The defense was solid behind Gurr. Valdez added to her successful game from behind the plate by picking off a runner at first in the top of the sixth.

Gurr hadn't allowed a hit since the second inning and faced the minimum in the third, fourth, and fifth. Megan Perron (CMC) took over in relief in the top of the seventh and sat the Panthers down in order after a leadoff single, striking out one.

Grobecker, Roleder, and Valdez all logged two hits in the game to lead the offense. Grobecker and Roleder each scored twice and Roleder and Valdez both knocked in a pair.

Gurr earned her 12th win of the season after striking out five through her six innings of shutout pitching.

Game Two: CMS defeats Chapman 3-1

Roleder stayed hot at the plate, knocking in the game's first run in the bottom of the first. With two outs, Chloe Amarilla (CMC) singled to the infield before advancing to second on the play with heads-up base running. This put her in prime scoring position for Roleder's single to center, giving CMS an early 1-0 lead.

In the circle, Amarilla was able to work out of jams in the first three innings, leaving Chapman runners in scoring position each time. The defense worked behind Amarilla, including a play in the top of the third in which Halle made a quick decision, getting the ball to Savannah Green (CMC) to cut down a runner at the plate.

Chapman tied the game in the top of the fourth, but Green continued to put in work behind the plate, catching a runner stealing to end the inning.

Looking to regain the lead, Valdez crushed her second RBI double of the day with a wall-banger off the fence in left, plating Scanlan to give CMS a 2-1 advantage.

Gurr took over in the circle in relief of Amarilla and Valdez stepped back behind the plate in the top of the fifth and both came out ready to play. Valdez cut down a runner attempting to steal for the inning's first out before Gurr struck out two to end the inning. In the top of the sixth she got some help from her defense when Roleder, Grobecker, and Halle combined for an inning-ending double play.

Halle singled to right to lead-off the bottom of the sixth and was lifted for Perley on the bases. A sacrifice bunt from Scanlan moved Perley to scoring position before Valdez doubled, yet again, splitting the gap in left center to knock in a run and give the Athenas a 3-1 lead.

Gurr recorded one final strikeout to end the game in the top of the seventh, earning her second save of the season.

Valdez led CMS hitters in Game Two, notching two RBI doubles. Amarilla earned the win after going four solid innings for her eighth of the season.

In all, Gurr tossed nine shutout innings on the day, striking out nine and allowing just four hits.

Valdez had a day at the plate, launching three RBI doubles with one in Game One and two in Game Two for a total of four RBI on the day. Roleder logged three hits, all with an RBI. Grobecker reached five times after notching two hits in the first game and walking three times in the second.

The wins move the Athenas to 22-10 overall and 11-9 in SCIAC play. The sweep moves CMS into third place in the SCIAC standings, just ahead of Whittier, with four doubleheaders remaining in regular season. They travel to Occidental College on Saturday for a twin bill with the Tigers beginning at noon.