FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SENIOR-LED RALLIES HELP PANTHERS WIN A PAIR OF ONE-RUN DECISIONS

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University softball team – ranked No. 5 in Division III and No. 1 in the West Region – battled back from deficits in both games of a doubleheader to sweep visiting Bethany University 3-2 and 4-3 at Hart Park on Saturday afternoon. On “Senior Day” it was Chapman’s seniors that sparked rallies in both games as the Panthers earned their sixth and seventh come-from-behind wins of the year.

Game 1: Chapman 3, Bethany 2
Trailing 2-0 in the sixth, Chapman got a leadoff walk from senior outfielder Kailee Roeser, followed by senior third baseman Kim Sanders’ team-leading eighth home run of the season, tying the game 2-2. Senior first baseman Meredith Cipolla followed with her fourth home run of the year – back-to-back – to give the Panthers the lead for good. Cipolla ranks second in Chapman’s Division III history (since 1994) with 23 career homers. The three-run inning made a winner out of senior right-hander Marissa Becerra who improved to 6-1 this year. Becerra allowed just four hits and two unearned runs while striking out five.

Game 2: Chapman 4, Bethany 3
This time the Bruins built a 3-0 lead after a pair of home runs from outfielder Danielle Myrick. Chapman rallied for one in the third inning on an RBI double from freshman outfielder Erin Dudzinski. The Panthers scored three times in the fourth after back-to-back singles by Sanders and Cipolla. Sophomore Catherine Hall hit a sacrifice fly, the Panthers scored a run on a Bethany error, and then Dudzinski came through again with an RBI single to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead. Dudzinski was 2-for-4 with two RBI and freshman catcher Kandy Francis went 2-for-2 with two runs scored.

Right-handers Maggie Wilder and Jennifer Winford combined on a four-hitter and struck out eight Bruins. Winford earned the victory in relief to improve to 12-4 this season.

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Game stats available online:
/athletics/05-06/softball/bc-cu1.htm
/athletics/05-06/softball/bc-cu2.htm
NEXT CU SOFTBALL GAME: Saturday, April 29 at Concordia; 12 p.m. (doubleheader)