ORANGE, Calif. — The Cal Lutheran Regals tore through Friday's double header against the Chapman Panthers, sweeping the afternoon 8-4 and 23-5.
In game one, Olivia Leyva, Kendall Marinesi and Abbigael Howard each picked up two RBIs while Makenna Pellerin recorded both a double and triple, giving Brittany Workman the run support needed for her fourth win of the season.
Though the Panthers struck early in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly from Sarah Taketa, the Regals tied things up with Howard's single in the second and took the 3-1 lead in the top of the third on a two-RBI double by Marinesi down the left field line to score Jacy Watanabe and Leyva.
Chapman answered and cut the lead to one in fourth on a RBI-single to center by Elizabeth Runge. However, the Regals were unfazed, scoring five runs in the top of the fifth. Workman contributed on the other side of the ball with a triple through to the right side to score Rapisardi before coming home herself on error by the third baseman. Howard and Leyva then combined for three more RBIs to cap off the Regals' big inning and bust open the lead to 8-2.
The Panthers managed two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on a double from Runge, but it wasn't enough as Meghan Henry came in and pitched the final two innings without giving up a hit.
Cal Lutheran continued to further impress in game two, forcing the Panthers to surrender after just five innings. Leyva and Rapisardi both went 4-for-5 in the game and combined for eight runs and six RBIs between the two.
The Regals jumped out early with four runs in the top of the first. Unstoppable, Rapisardi brought in Leyva for the first run of the game. Then, Mayhew's double to left center scored two and Howard wrapped up the inning with a single to score Mayhew.
The offense stayed hot in the second with Rapisardi once again bringing in the first run of the inning with a single through to the right side, bringing home Leyva and Pellerin. Marinesi brought in run three and Howard followed suit to score runs four and five. After batting around the lineup, Howard and Mayhew scored on an error by Chapman's second baseman pushing the score to 11-0.
Chapman made it on the board with two runs in their half of the second, but was quickly forgotten as each team scored three in the third to retain the nine-run margin.
The Regals were still only getting hotter though as they scored a season-high nine runs in the top of the fourth on seven hits and two errors. Another error by Chapman's second baseman scored Watanabe to start the scoring run before Mayhew singled to left to bring home Rapisardi and load the bases. Pinch-hitter Lexie Findley then caught the offensive fire and singled to center to score Marinesi.
After forcing the Panthers to make three defensive changes mid-inning, Leyva took charge with a two-RBI double. Rapisardi added an RBI of her own with a single to the third baseman and Marinesi wrapped the massive inning with her team-leading fourth triple of the year to score two more.
With a final score of 23-5, Sienna Perez earned the victory, holding the Panthers scoreless in the final 2 2/3 innings of the game for her third win of the season. With the Regals holding greater than an eight-run lead after five innings of play, the game was forfeited early.
Cal Lutheran look to continue their momentum into tomorrow's double header at home against the Whittier Poets, game times are set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. PST.
Box Score: CLU 8, CU 4; CLU 23, CU 5
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Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director
