CMS Softball Drops 11-9 Decision at Cal Lutheran in SCIAC Opener

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - Lauren Richards and Destiny Garcia each had three RBI, but the Cal Lutheran softball team scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to come from behind and take an 11-9 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in the SCIAC opener for both teams on Friday.

CMS led almost the whole way until the bottom of the sixth. Emma Suh led off the first inning with a single and came home on a Garcia single. Richards then led off the second inning with a solo homer, the first round-tripper for the Athenas this season, to make it a 2-0 game.

Cal Lutheran knotted the score on a two-run homer in the bottom of the second, but CMS came right back with four runs in the third to take a 6-2 lead. Ellie Novogradac played Suh with an RBI single, and Garcia (who reached on an error), Richards and Kristin LeBlanc all had sacrifice flies in the inning. 

The Regals scored three times in the bottom of the third to make it a 6-5 game, before Garcia plated her third run in three plate appearances in the top of the fourth with an RBI double, giving CMS the 7-5 advantage. 

Cal Lutheran, though, came back with six RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth to plate six runs and take the lead for good at 11-7. Richards had an RBI triple in the seventh, and LeBlanc plated her with an RBI double, but Regals pitcher Mia Garcia was able to end the game with a groundout with the tying run at the plate.  

Richards was 2-for-3 with a triple, homer and three RBI, while Garcia was 2-for-4 with three RBI. Suh moved into the leadoff spot and was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.

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