Expert Advice, Timely Hits Lift Chapman

There’s nothing like a little Hall of Fame advice to help cure a slump.

Chapman busted out of a tournament-long funk, scoring 17 runs on 24 hits to post two convincing victories in NCAA Division III West Regional softball Saturday at Hart Park.

Chapman’s All-American first baseman Stephanie Carew, who went hitless in her first six at-bats of the tournament, got a little advice from her dad, Angel batting instructor Rod Carew, and had three hits, three runs scored and a run batted in Chapman’s 8-0 victory over Lawrence of Appleton, Wis.

Then, Carew hit a first-inning, two-run home run to start Chapman on its way to a 9-3 victory over Buena Vista of Storm Lake, Iowa, keeping the Panthers alive in the double-elimination tournament.

Chapman (33-7), which lost in the first round to Lawrence (25-11), plays Buena Vista (27-10) at noon today to decide the West Regional champion. The winner advances to the NCAA Finals May 14-17 in Salem, Va.

The Panthers are a step closer to Salem thanks in part to their rediscovered strokes.

“I took a hitting lesson from my father this morning,” Carew said. “I was more comfortable at the plate today.”

Most of the Panthers found their comfort zone Saturday after managing two runs and eight hits in the first two games of the regional.

Lacee Rashi had three RBIs and Jessamine Maiben hit a two-run double in the victory over Lawrence. In the victory over Buena Vista, Katie Chauvin and Cindy Bemis each hit two-run singles.

Jenni Bankus had five hits and three runs scored and Dawn Lopez had three RBIs in the two games.

“I knew it was just a matter of time before our bats woke up,” said Chapman Coach Janet Lloyd, grinning.

Chapman’s pitching and defense also made Lloyd smile.

Freshman Catie Lacy (13-1) pitched a two-hitter against Lawrence and has given up only nine hits in 19 scoreless innings. Freshman Linsey Buendia (8-1) gave up no earned runs in a complete-game victory over Buena Vista.

Defensively, Chapman sparkled when it counted most against Buena Vista. Second baseman Amie Barnes took away a base hit with a diving catch in the second and Carew threw out a runner at the plate in the fourth to preserve a 2-0 lead.

In the NAIA Far West regional:

Southern California College 1, Hawaii Pacific 0--Sarah Waters scored the game-winner on a Val Irwin single in the bottom of the first inning for SCC (48-11) to win the regional championship.

Jen Houston scattered five hits over seven shutout innings for SCC, which advances to the NAIA National Championships, starting May 19 at Tulsa, Okla.

Hawaii Pacific (35-17) defeated SCC, 5-2, earlier in the day to force a second game.