CMS Softball Falls in Bottom of Seventh in Series Opener to Pomona-Pitzer

CLAREMONT, Calif. - The Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team was one out away from a series-opening win over Pomona-Pitzer, but fell 3-2 on a pinch-hit two-run single from Zoey Joshlin on Friday afternoon, spoiling a 4-fof-4 performance from Abby Thompson.

The loss drops CMS to 19-17 on the year and 12-7 in the SCIAC, falling two games behind Redlands for first place and into a three-way tie for second with Chapman and La Verne. Pomona-Pitzer, which would have been eliminated with a loss, stays in contention for the SCIAC Tournament with the win, improving to 18-20 overall and 10-9 in league play. 

CMS trailed 1-0 until the fifth inning, when Destiny Garcia hit a double down the left field line with one out. Paige Zimmerman singled to put runners on first and third with two outs, and after a pitching change, Thompson singled through the left side to score Garcia and tie the score 1-1. 

The Athenas went ahead in the top of the seventh inning, as Lauren Richards drew a walk to start the inning. Pinch runner Kaili Aqui went to second on a wild pitch and stole third, and then came home on an RBI double from Zimmerman for her fourth hit of the game. 

A single and an error put two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, though, and after a sacrifice moved them over, Richards picked up a big strikeout to bring CMS one out away from the win. Joshlin stepped up a pinch hitter, though, and singled to center to plate both runners and give the Sagehens the victory. 

The two teams will meet again tomorrow for a doubleheader at Athena Field, which will also serve as Senior Day for the Class of 2022. CMS will need to win one game to clinch a SCIAC playoff bid, while Pomona-Pitzer could take the final spot from the Athenas with a sweep, which would leave the two teams tied at 12-9, but give the Sagehens the tiebreaker.