Even-Steven: Softball splits two more games

ANAHEIM, Calif. -  It's been the story of their season so far. The Chapman University softball team can't seem to get on a roll. For the sixth time this season the Panthers won one, lost one on Wednesday. Chapman lost to Hamline University (Minn.) 8-3, then defeated Carleton College (Minn.) 13-0 in a pair of games in the Sun West Tournament at Peralta Park. The Panthers improved to 5-3 in the tournament, with two games remaining in the two-week tournament on Friday.

Game 1: Hamline 8, Chapman 3
The Pipers took advantage of five Chapman errors, which added up to seven unearned runs and resulted in an 8-3 Hamline win. Junior RHP Katie Finley (5-5) was the tough-luck loser despite striking out nine batters and allowing just one earned run in six innings. That one earned run came on a home run by Sophie Davidson in the fourth inning.

Chapman had rallied to cut a 5-1 deficit to 5-3 in the fifth, thanks in part to an RBI double by freshman C Michelle Pitts. The rookie backstop went 2-for-3 at the plate and currently leads all Panthers with a .383 average. Chapman also swiped a run, literally, when senior OF Erin Dudzinski stole home on a fake double steal. Dudzinski had doubled to begin the rally.

Game 2: Chapman 13, Carleton 0 (5 inn.)
The Panthers scored four runs in each of the first three innings to stake freshman RHP Lindsay Delamater (4-0) to a sizeable lead. Delamater pitched three hitless innings with four strikeouts for her fourth win of the season.

Ten different Chapman players collected hits, including Dudzinski, freshman OF Jojo Wakabayashi, sophomore C Jessica Pauletto and freshman OF Andrena Calix who had two hits apiece. The first base tandem of junior Dani Brown and freshman Larissa Silvas each doubled in a run as well.

Chapman (12-12) matched its season-high with 14 hits and has won all eight games this season in which the Panthers have collected at least 10 hits in the game.

Game 1 Box: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2008-09/stats/cu-hml.htm
Game 2 Box: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/sball/2008-09/stats/cu-car.htm