Home Stand Concludes with Sweep of PLU
Regals win 4-of-4 against NWC foes
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.
- The longest home stand in Hutton Field history came to a close on Wednesday
afternoon as the Regals softball squad defeated Pacific Lutheran (WA)
University by 3-2 and 4-1 margins, respectively. Sophomore Lizzie Novak went
4-for-5 with three RBI on the day in leading the Regals offense.
Game one pitcher Talia Ferrari (8-5) equaled her performance from the day
prior retiring the opposition in order through the first three innings. PLU's
Caitlin Brown led off the fourth inning with a single and later scored on a
groundout to tie the game 1-1.
After Breanna Horton and Erin Lewis reached base safely as the first two
batters in the fifth, Novak's eventual game-winning double plated both runners.
The Lutes cut the deficit to 3-2 after Missy Waldron singled home Shelby
Johnston, but Ferrari forced the 18th PLU groundout to finish the
complete game win.
The CLU freshman hurler forced 18 groundouts, struck out two and a lazy
infield blooper was caught by first baseman Katy Bateman for the lone fly out
of the contest. Bateman finished with 17 defensive putouts in game one.
PLU opened game two by scoring in the first inning following a Jordan Liebe
RBI-single. The Lutes looked to add to a 1-0 fourth inning lead after Cathy
Kirkevold tripled to start the frame but CLU's Lizzy Chacon struck out two and
a batter out of the box call ended the threat.
Chacon helped her own cause lacing a two-out RBI-triple in the bottom half
of the fourth. A bobble and low throw on a routine groundout allowed her to
score on the ensuing at bat and score the go-ahead run.
The Regals added two more runs in the fifth after connecting for three of
the team's six base hits in the frame. A wind-aided leadoff Brittany Ordos
double, single by Lewis and Novak completing a 3-for-3 day at the plate
provided a 4-1 cushion.
Chacón (8-4) had more than enough offensive support as she allowed just one
hit over the final three innings to pick up the win. She went seven innings
allowing one unearned run on five hits while striking out seven Lutes.
The Regals went 8-6 during its 14-game home stand beginning back on March 10
with a pair of wins against Wheaton (IL) College. CLU earned four-game win
streaks at the bookends while dropping doubleheaders to CMS, Tufts (MA) and La
Verne.
Cal Lutheran (16-9) will play its first road contests in nearly three weeks
at Chapman (11-11) starting at Noon on Saturday, March 28.
Box Score (Game One): CLU 3, PLU 2 F
Box Score (Game Two): CLU 4, PLU 1 F
