FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WILDER LEADS CHAPMAN TO THIRD PLACE FINISH IN FLORIDA

PANAMA CITY, Fla. –  Senior RHP Maggie Wilder struck out 12 batters to lead the Chapman University softball team to 9-2 victory over Louisiana College in the third place game of the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Panama City, Fla. on Sunday. Chapman (14-6), in its first-ever appearance at the tournament, finished third in the 24-team field of Division III powers. Wilder earned three of the Panthers’ four victories this weekend and improved to 8-2 this season.

Game 1: Willamette 8, Chapman 1
Playing for a berth in the tournament’s championship game, Willamette (Ore.) got the better of Chapman, jumping on the Panthers with a pair of runs in the first inning and two more in the second. The Bearcats built an 8-0 lead before Chapman staved off a run-rule by pushing across a run in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman IF Melanie Villaroel singled and scored on sophomore OF Kathleen Ramseyer’s sacrifice fly to push across Chapman’s only run of the game. Sophomore OF Erin Dudzinski reached base four times in the game, going 2-for-2 with two doubles and two walks.

Game 2: Chapman 9, Louisiana College 2
The Panthers scored early and often, pounding out 12 hits, on their way to clinching third place at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Junior IF Catherine Hall and junior C Amanda Campbell each drove in a pair of runs and junior DP Jennifer Winford was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Chapman (14-6) opened up a 5-2 game with four runs in the top of the seventh inning.

Wilder was tough once again for Chapman in the circle. The right-hander scattered seven hits and struck out 12 in the game. For the weekend, she posted a 3-0 record with 28 strikeouts and a 1.33 ERA.

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Game stats available online:
http://www1.chapman.edu/athletics/06-07/softball/wu-cu.htm
http://www1.chapman.edu/athletics/06-07/softball/cu-lc.htm