FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PANTHERS RALLY TWICE, PLAY LONG BALL AND EXTEND WINNING STREAK

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University women’s softball team matched its longest winning streak of the season with a pair of come-from-behind victories over Fontbonne (Mo.) and Central (Iowa) on Sunday afternoon in the Sun West Tournament at Hart Park. The Panthers rallied from a 2-1 deficit to beat Fontbonne 7-2, then trailed Central 4-2 before rallying to beat the Dutch 6-4 for their sixth win in a row.

Game 1: Chapman 7, Fontbonne 2
Chapman trailed 2-1 in the second inning when senior infielder Katherine Searing cleared the bases with a three-run double to give the Panthers the lead for good. Searing wasn’t done there. She added a two-run homer in the fourth to give Chapman a much-needed cushion against a Fontbonne team that reached the Midwest Regional playoffs in 2005. Searing’s five RBI set a career-high, while her three home runs this season are also a career best.

Sophomore right-hander Jennifer Winford held the Griffins to just three hits and two unearned runs in earning the complete game victory. Winford improved to 7-2 this season and has struck out at least seven batters in each of her past three starts.

Game 2: Chapman 6, Central 4
The Panthers’ comeback in this game was a bit more on the dramatic side. Central took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning on a two-run single by Kristin Wares, and the Dutch held a 4-3 advantage heading into the seventh inning. However, senior infielder Kim Sanders led off the inning with a solo home run to left-center to tie the game. Three batters later, sophomore outfielder Catherine Hall played hero with a two-run homer to seal the Chapman victory 6-4 over Central in a rivalry that dates back to the 90’s. The two teams have a combined five national championships in softball (Central owns four of those championships).

Sanders’ homer capped a great week individually. The senior was 8-for-16 (.500) with five extra-base hits, including three home runs and five RBI. Senior infielder Jill Jeranko also homered in the game and is tied with Sanders for the team-lead with five round-trippers.

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Game stats available online:
/athletics/05-06/softball/fon-cu.htm
/athletics/05-06/softball/cu-cen.htm
NEXT CU SOFTBALL GAME: Friday, March 17th vs. Puget Sound (WA); 5:45 p.m.