THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.— Cal Lutheran softball got a huge win as the Regals took down No. 10 Williams College 3-1 in game two of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon. CLU almost had the upset in game one, but the Ephs escaped with a 6-5 win in nine innings.
Pitcher Brittany Workman and the defense pulled off a key upset for the Regals (7-11) as they gained momentum with more Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) play coming up. Workman pitched all seven innings in game two and only gave up three hits while not allowing any earned runs.
Williams did strike first in the game and put up their lone run in the first inning thanks to a passed ball. The defense had her back as the Regals shut out the Ephs the rest of the way. The Regals made key play after key play, coming from everywhere on the diamond, as they kept the Ephs quiet.
Williams had a perfect game from the mound until the fourth inning. Kendall Marinesi ended the perfect run and tied the game with one swing of the bat. She crushed her seventh home run of the year and gave the Regals life. CLU increased its lead the very next inning. After a double by Celeste Ekman, and a sac bunt from Sienna Vannoy to move her over to third, Mia Onesto recorded a RBI single to give Cal Lutheran the lead. The Regals tacked on one more as Lexie Findle ywas hitch by a pitch when the bases were loaded.
Workman and the defense did the rest. The Ephs left three runners on base over the final two innings as Cal Lutheran shocked Williams in the second game. Workman threw 116 pitches and improved to 3-2 overall, while pitching her second consecutive complete game.
In the first game of the day, CLU came out on fire and shows the Ephs they came to play. Cal Lutheran jumped all over Williams as Rachel Barker drilled a two-run RBI double in the bottom of the first. Vannoy grounded out scoring another run and the Regals were up early 3-0.
Olivia Serrano was on the mound for the second game and took care of the Ephs early on. Williams finally broke through in the top of the third, scoring one run, and then added three more in the fifth as they took the lead. Marinesi was there for the answer as she singled scoring Rilee Grau.
Serrano pitched five innings before CLU brought in Sienna Perez. Perez kept the Ephs silent, but Cal Lutheran's offense couldn't score either as the game went to extra innings. Both teams scored one run in the eighth as the game continued on. The Ephs scored again in the ninth, but Cal Lutheran wasn't able to answer as Williams snuck away with the win.
Perez only gave up four hits over her four innings of pitching. However, Williams did score twice against Perez as she took her first loss of the season and is 0-1.
The Regals have one last conference doubleheader before jumping back into conference play. Cal Lutheran welcomes Denison (Ohio) to Hutton Field on Friday for a doubleheader set for 12 and 2 p.m.
Interview with Lauren Salvati and Brittany Workman:
Box Score: WC 6, CLU 5 (9 inn.); CLU 3, WC 1
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director
