THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Solid pitching from Olivia Serrano and a perfect second game by Antonia Rapisardi helped the Cal Lutheran Regals end Saturday afternoon on a sweet note against the Occidental Tigers. Occidental took game one 5-1, but the Regals earned the win in game two 4-1 to split the series.
Brittany Workman opened up game one on the mound for the Regals and struck out her first three batters, all swinging, but the Tigers took game one early with a two-RBI long ball from Bailey Stevens the next inning. Her homerun was followed by two more runs in the fourth on smart baserunning and RBI singles by Madison Rome and Alexis Funaki. Natalie Glov padded their lead in the sixth with an RBI-double to push the score to 5-0.
The Regals answered in the seventh with a RBI-double of their own from Olivia Leyva to bring home Marissa Alfaia. However, Funaki was able to finish the game and pitched a one-run seven-hit complete game with six strikeouts for the win.
Cal Lutheran came out in game two though and turned to small ball action for their victory. "Scooter" Rapisardi finished 4-for-4 in the second half of the afternoon with a run and two RBI. Alfaia followed suit and went 2-for-4 with a run of her own. Defensively, Serrano commanded the mound and allowed just the one run in her seven-hit complete game.
The Regals took an early 1-0 lead on Kendall Marinesi's RBI-double in the bottom of the first and their momentum continued into the second inning as Serrano contributed on both sides of the ball with a single to left center. Back-to-back singles from Alfaia and Rapisardi followed to bring in second run of the game. Looking to avoid another score, the Tigers made four defensive changes, but the Regals instead capitalized and brought home Alfaia on a single to Leyva for the 3-0 lead.
Another home run by Stevens in the fourth brought in the lone run for the Tigers. The Regals remained unfazed though and pushed the lead back to three on another RBI-single from Rapisardi in the second half of the inning.
Cal Lutheran looks to bring in two more wins tomorrow, March 25, 2018, in a double header against the Redlands Bulldogs. Game times are set for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. PT.
Interview with P Olivia Serrano and IF Antonia Rapisardi: https://youtu.be/nWM4P9j-T-g
Roster: 2018 Roster
Schedule: 2018 Schedule
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Release by Christy Effendie, Assistant Sports Information Director
