Softball Splits with Sagehens

CLAREMONT, Calif. – Cal Lutheran and Pomona-Pitzer played a pair of one-run softball games today in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) action with the teams splitting the series. CLU fell 4-3 in the first game before rallying back for a 3-2 game two victory.

Leadoff batter Kelly Lockwood continued to produce at the plate for the Regals, turning in a combined 7-for-7 day with a pair of homeruns and a double for a 2.000 slugging percentage adding a walk for a perfect on-base percentage. Shonna Christianson threw a complete game five hitter, allowing just one earned run while striking out three, aiding her own cause with a solo homerun, in the second game of the day.

Christianson got all the offense she needed in the third inning of game two. She led off the frame with a solo shot to put CLU on the board. With two down, Ryanna Morua drew a walk and Lockwood doubled to centerfield. Kayla Sakamoto outran an infield single, plating Morua with the second Regals run. A wild pitch allowed Lockwood to score the ultimate winning run.

Pomona-Pitzer put up a crooked number in their half of the second when Caitlyn Hynes, who walked and stolen base, scored on a sacrifice fly by Paige Oliver.

In both the third and fourth Christianson worked out of trouble. Ashley Morello reached on the only CLU error of the day to start the fifth and stole home to cut the Regals lead to one.

After Cal Lutheran left the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, Pomona-Pitzer threatened in the bottom of the inning. A heads up fielder’s choice on a bunt saw Liz Mertel cut down a runner at second where she found Lockwood awaiting the throw. A sac bunt was the second out of the inning and a fly ball to Sakamoto in center kept the Sagehens from tying things.

In the top of the seventh, Christianson again attempted to help herself out with a two-out double, but the inning ended on a line drive.

The bottom of the seventh was a 1-2-3 inning for Christianson (2-5) who got ground balls to third and second for the first two outs and a pop up to Morua at second to complete the game and secure the win.

In game one, Lockwood was responsible for four of the seven CLU hits. A pair of leadoff long balls by the shortstop in the third and seventh and an RBI single, scoring Moruawho doubled to start the fifth, were not enough in a one-run loss.

Pomona-Pitzer connected for 10 hits, plating one in the first and another in the second. A two-run fourth inning saw eight batters step into the box for the Sagehens, who took a 4-1 lead at the time.

Katelyn Downing (2-6) was tagged with the loss in a complete game, 6.0 innings, effort in which she struck out a pair.

Overall, Sakamoto was 4-for-6 with an RBI and Christianson and Brittany Labbe had two-hit days. Defensively Morua and Mertel each had 12 touches without an error. Morua finished with 10 putouts and a pair of assists while Mertel had a dozen assists at the hot corner.

For PP, Meagan Tokunaga was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI and Morello was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run in game one. In game two, Aryana Yee was the only player with multiple hits, singling twice, though she did not score.

Cal Lutheran (4-14, 3-11 SCIAC) returns to Hutton Field on Thursday, March 21 for a pair of non-conference games with Linfield (Ore.). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

Game 1: PP 4, CLU 3  
Game 2: CLU 3, PP 2
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