CMS Softball Takes Series Opener from Pomona-Pitzer 8-4

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Rachel Sapirstein was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and three RBI, and Jacqueline Solomon was 2-for-4 with three RBI as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team earned an 8-4 win over Pomona-Pitzer in the first game of a three-game series on Friday.

With the win, CMS moves to 22-9 overall and 13-3 in the SCIAC, staying ahead of Redlands (14-4) in the loss column in the battle for first-place in the league standings. Pomona-Pitzer slips to 15-18 and 7-9 in the SCIAC with the loss.

Sapirstein's two-run homer, the first round-tripper of her two-year career, came in the top of the sixth inning to give CMS an 8-1 lead and give the Athenas some breathing room as Pomona-Pitzer was able to come back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning. Her homer came after Kaili Aqui led off with a triple, and was still on third base with two outs, before Sapirstein was able to drive her home and tack on her own run behind her.

Sapirstein also started a four-run fifth inning that broke it open with an RBI single, after Giselle Lai and Destiny Garcia each had singles to start the inning. Megan Kho plated a run on a fielder's choice, and Solomon capped it off with a two-run double to make it 6-1.

CMS also scored twice in the first as Lai and Garcia singled, Sapirstein walked to load the bases, and Madison Gonazlez got the Athenas on the board with a fielder's choice, before Solomon plated a second run with a grounder.

Garcia finished the game 3-for-4, while Lai was 2-for-4. Hannah Adams threw 4.2 innings to get the win, allowing three hits and one earned run.

CMS will be back in action tomorrow when it hosts Pomona-Pitzer for a noon doubleheader to complete the series. It will also be Senior Day as the Athenas will honor Garcia, Jade Johnson and Ellie Novogradac prior to the contest.