FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAPMAN PICKS UP FIRST TWO SUN WEST WINS

ORANGE, Calif. – The past two weeks have been rough on Panther hitters. The normally over-productive lineup for the Chapman University women’s softball team batted just .217 as a team over an eight-game stretch from Feb. 24 to March 5. Fortunately for the Panthers, their opponents weren’t any better, batting .215 and held to just a 1.02 ERA by Chapman’s pitching staff.

After a pair of victories over Methodist College (N.C.) and Greensboro College (N.C.) in the Chapman-hosted Sun West Tournament on Tuesday, those offensive woes appear to be thing of the past. Chapman defeated Methodist 2-0 and then beat Greensboro 10-6 to improve to 2-1 in tournament play and 13-5 overall.

Game 1: Chapman 2, Methodist 0
In a battle of top-30 teams in Division III, the Panthers used a solo home run by senior infielder Kim Sanders in the third and an RBI double by freshman outfielder Erin Dudzinski in the fourth to snap a brief two-game skid. Sophomore right-hander Jennifer Winford made those runs hold up, earning her third shutout of the season and striking out a season-high seven batters. Winford improved to 5-2 this season with the win. In a sign that the slump was nearing its end, even different Panthers collected hits in the game.

Game 2: Chapman 10, Greensboro 6
Sanders put Chapman on top for good with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning – her fourth homer of the season. The Panthers then scored at least one run in each of the final four innings to reach double figures in runs for just the second time this season. Chapman’s 13 hits was also a season-high. Senior shortstop Jill Jeranko homered in the fifth inning – her third of the year – to go with a first inning RBI single. And senior first baseman Meredith Cipolla went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles, stole a base and had an RBI.

Senior right-handers Erin Bryant (2-1) and Marissa Becerra combined to allow just three earned runs in seven innings. Becerra earned her first save of the season with two and two-thirds innings in relief and maintained her 0.00 ERA this season, surrendering a pair of unearned runs in the sixth inning.

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Game stats available online:
/athletics/05-06/softball/met-cu.htm
/athletics/05-06/softball/cu-gre.htm
NEXT CU SOFTBALL GAME: Wednesday, March 8th vs. Menlo; 3:30 p.m. (DH)