CLAREMONT, CA. – The Pomona-Pitzer Softball program split their Saturday series against Chapman University, making a comeback victory 6-5 in game one off back-to-back homeruns from Izzy Deatherage and Megan Otsuka, before falling 6-2 in game two. Deatherage had a solid game at the plate, hitting a combined 3-for-6 with two RBIs, and three runs.

Season Impact: The Sagehens are now 14-3-1 overall and 7-3 in the SCIAC.

Pomona-Pitzer 6, Chapman 5

The Sagehens came back in spectacular fashion in the first game against Chapman, as Isabella Deatherage and Megan Otsuka hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the seventh inning while trailing 5-4 for the victory. Deatherage hit 2-for-4 with two runs and 1 RBI while Otsuka was a perfect 3-for-3 with 2 runs and an RBI. Paige Blackwell earned her first win of the season after throwing 2.1 shutout innings of relief.

The Panthers struck first in the top of the first inning with an RBI single by Sarah Sumida. The Sagehens responded in the same inning when Karina Falkstrom hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game.

Kyra Gallego hit a solo bomb to retake the lead for Chapman, but the Liz Rodarte answered back with an RBI single to tie it back.

In the bottom of the third, Makensey Druckman gave the Sagehens the lead with runners on first and second, when her grounder was thrown poorly by the shortstop. Hannah Brajkovich followed with an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-2.
The Panthers responded with an RBI double by Hope Ballard in the top of the fourth and later took the lead with Sarah Whalen hit a go-ahead single in the top of the fifth.

The Sagehens maintained the score, trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh. Izzy Deatherage led off the inning by launching a towering shot over center field to tie the game. Otsuka followed with a solo bomb over left field off the second pitch she saw to clinch the victory.

Pomona-Pitzer 2, Chapman 6

The Panthers took the lead in the third inning, with runners on first and second when Sarah Whalen hit into an error to bring in a run. However, Deatherage responded in the bottom of the third with runners on the corners when she laced a line drive to right center to tie the game.

Chapman rallied in the fourth inning to take back the lead, scoring three runs. With two outs and bases loaded, Michelle Calcany Blair stopped the bleeding with a sliding catch on a shallow line drive to center field.

The Sagehens scored on a wild pitch in the sixth to cut the deficit 4-2, but the Panthers pulled away with two runs in the top of the seventh to split the series.

Up Next: The Sagehens will next host Denison University on Monday, March 18 at 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.