FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ST. THOMAS PROVES NO VACATION FOR PANTHERS

ORANGE, Calif. –  The Chapman University softball team split a pair of games at the Sun West Tournament on Monday afternoon, defeating St. Mary’s University (Minn.) 9-2 and losing to University of St. Thomas (Minn.) 5-1 at Hart Park. The Panthers, who officially began their spring break on Monday, saw their six-game winning streak snapped and fell to 11-2 in tournament play this month.

Game 1: Chapman 9, St. Mary’s 2
The Panthers overcame a 2-0 deficit with eight runs in the fourth inning and won 9-2. Sophomore IF SheaLynn Slover led off the inning with a solo home run – her team-leading fourth this season. Later in the inning, sophomore IF Dani Brown and senior C Amanda Campbell each singled in a pair of runs as the Panthers sent 11 batters to the plate in all.

The top of the Chapman batting order – Erin Dudzinski and Melanie Villarroel – combined for five hits and two doubles to lead the Panther offense.

Sophomore RHP Katie Finley allowed just four hits and no earned runs to win her fifth straight. The right-hander also struck out 10 batters to earn her eighth complete game of the year.

Game 2: St. Thomas 5, Chapman 1
The No. 4-ranked Tommies snapped a 1-1 tie with a three-run fifth inning, and then added an insurance run in the sixth to put an end to Chapman’s winning streak. St. Thomas improved to a perfect 10-0 this season with the win, clubbing 11 hits – all singles.

Chapman evened the score at 1-1 in the fourth on an RBI double from Campbell, but the Panthers were held to just three hits by junior RHP Marta Radcliffe, who finished with eight strikeouts.

Sophomore OF Alison Wright went 3-for-3 for St. Thomas, while junior IF Morgan Betker had two hits and drove in a pair of runs.

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Game stats available online:
/athletics/07-08/softball/stm-cu.htm
/athletics/07-08/softball/cu-stt.htm