Chapman Wins Twice to Reach Title Game

Chapman won two games Sunday in Eau Claire, Wis., advancing to the championship game today in the NCAA Division III softball finals.

Chapman defeated Alma (Mich.), 3-1, and Simpson (Iowa), 5-2, to set up a rematch with Simpson today in the double-elimination tournament.

In the second game, Chapman’s Dawn Lopez hit a three-run home run off Simpson’s All-American pitcher Kelly Schade in the bottom of the third to give the Panthers a 5-0 lead. It was the first home run Schade (36-3) gave up this season.

Chapman pitcher Linsey Buendia (17-4) gave up six hits, four walks and two earned runs, and escaped bases-loaded jams in the second and fourth innings to earn the victory.

On Saturday, Simpson (46-4-1) defeated Chapman (35-9) in the winners’ bracket final, 2-1, so the Panthers needed to defeat Alma (46-7) in the first game Sunday to stay alive.

Second baseman Amie Barnes had three hits and two runs batted in to lead Chapman. Barnes and Chrissy Lake hit run-scoring singles in the bottom of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie and Tiffany Hoskins pitched three innings of no-hit relief to earn the victory.