PANTHERS SPLIT DOUBLEHEADER WITH SAN JACINTO

Chaffey traveled to Menifee on Friday to face Mt. San Jacinto College in an Inland Empire Athletic Conference doubleheader showdown. The Panthers emerged with a split to stay tied at the top of the conference standings in the loss column. Game 1 turned into a pitcher's duel. Freshman Amanda Sera scattered 8 hits before MSJC finally broke through with a run in the 6th inning. The Panthers threatened multiple times but were unable to plate a runner, losing the opener 1-0. The second game was another tight one as San Jacinto picked up a run in the first inning and added two more in the 3rd to take a 3-0 lead. Freshman relief pitcher Brooklyn Fristrom entered the game and shut down the Eagles from that point on. Chaffey rallied by loading the bases in the fifth inning as freshman Samantha Vasquez and Sera each reached base. Freshman outfielder Delaney Barber followed with a single. Sophomore Victoria Esparza cleared the bases with a double to tie the game at 3-3. The game stayed that way into extra innings. In the top of the 8th, the Panthers broke open the contest, scoring three runs to take control. Freshman Megan Aranda drew a two-out walk and then freshman Kristina Sandoval drove a double to right center field, scoring Aranda all the way from first. Sera followed with a single, prompting a pitching change. Sandoval scampered home on a wild pitch and Sera went all the way around to third, giving Chaffey a 5-3 lead. Vasquez laced a single to left to drive in Sera, giving the Panthers a 6-3 lead. Fristrom finished off the 8th, allowing one run on two hits, picking up the win to improve her record to 5-3 in the circle. Chaffey will travel to Ventura next Wednesday before starting a 10-game home stand.