CLAREMONT, Ca. – The Pomona-Pitzer softball completed the series sweep over the CMS Athenas with a 10-0 victory in game one and a 4-3 victory in game two. With the three-game sweep over their rival CMS, the Sagehens are now 12-9 in the conference and have earned their spot in the 2022 SCIAC Tournament. In game one, the Sagehens recorded 16 hits overall with Megan Otsuka and Lauren Ziment both recording four hits and three RBIs while Deijah Bradley ended the game with three hits of her own. Devin Waddell also recorded three RBIs for the Sagehens off two hits in game one. Waddell pitched four innings for Pomona-Pitzer in game one, giving up just one run while Paige Blackwell pitched the final three innings. In game two, the Sagehens were led by Otsuka, Waddell, and Bradley as the trio all recorded two hits. The Sagehens utilized Emma Holt, Kailey Newkirk, and Erika Rivera in the circle to keep the Athenas at three runs on the day. The Sagehens will be back in action on May 6-8 at the SCIAC Softball Tournament. 

How It Happened 

Game One – Pomona-Pitzer 10, CMS 0

The Sagehens put three runners on in the first inning with one hit from Megan Otsuka and two CMS errors but didn't find home plate until the second inning. In the second inning, Deijah Bradley got things started with a single to center field. Amanda Robman laid down the sacrifice bunt to move Bradley over and Otsuka hit a single down the right field line to bring Bradley home. Lauren Ziment hit an RBI triple to make it 2-0 before Devin Waddell hit an RBI triple to increase the lead to 3-0. The Athenas made a pitching change, but Pomona-Pitzer wasn't bother as Taylor Lehner recorded an RBI single up the middle to make it 4-0. 

After a quick three and out in the bottom of the second for the Athenas, the Sagehens added three runs in the third with a two RBI double from Otsuka and an RBI single from Ziment, putting the Sagehens up 7-0. The Sagehens ballooned their lead to double-digits in the top of the seventh as Ziment hit an RBI single through through the left side and Devin Waddell hit a two-RBI double to left, putting the Sagehens up 10-0.

The Athenas had their fair share of chances to make a comeback but left two runners on base in both the third inning, fourth inning, and seventh inning as the Sagehens rolled to a 10-0 victory in game one.

Game Two – Pomona-Pitzer 4, CMS 3

The Sagehens scored first in game two, again striking in the second inning. Amanda Robman hit an RBI single to left field to bring in Hannah Brajkovich who reached first earlier in the inning after getting hit by a pitch.

Pomona-Pitzer did the rest of their damage in the top of the fifth inning with Bella Carreon starting the inning with a single to right field and a stolen base to get to second. Megan Otsuka brought her home with a single to center field and later stole second base as well. Taylor Lehner brought Otsuka across home plate with an RBI single before Brajkovich brought Lehner home with an RBI double to left field, putting the Sagehens up 4-0 over the Athenas. 

The Sagehens fell into some trouble in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Athenas put two runners on with a single and a Sagehen error. CMS capitalized on the opportunity with an RBI double before the Sagehens made a pitching change. Kailey Newkirk struck out her first batter to give the Athenas their second out, but a walk and a two RBI single cut the Sagehens lead to 4-3 before Newkirk struck out another Athena to end the inning. The Athenas made another attempt to steal the win in the bottom of the seventh inning this time with Erika Rivera pitching to close out the game. The first two batters hit a pop up and a fly ball, putting CMS in an early two-out hole. Back-to-back singles put runners on first and second, giving the Athenas a chance but a foul ball down the first base line was caught by Devin Waddell and ended the game 4-3 in favor of the Sagehens as they swept rival CMS 3-0 and earned their bid into the SCIAC Tournament.

What's Up Next

As mentioned, the Sagehens will be back in action on May 6-8 at the SCIAC Softball Tournament.