Chapman Reaches NCAA Finals

Christy Lake’s two-run single capped a three-run fifth-inning rally that helped the Chapman softball team defeat Pacific Lutheran, 3-1, in the championship game of the NCAA Division III West Regional at Hart Park Sunday.

The Panthers, who beat Pacific Lutheran, 8-0, earlier Sunday to force a second game, advanced to the Division III national finals.

Chapman trailed, 1-0, entering the fifth, but Theresa Cronin drove home a run on a sacrifice fly and Lake’s single drove in two runs to give the Panthers the lead for good. Leslie Prochaska, who scored on Cronin’s sacrifice fly, had the only other hit for Chapman (36-9).

In the first game, Lake and Amie Barnes had three hits each. Linsey Buendia (15-4) pitched complete-game victories in both games, striking out five in each.

The Panthers are in the national championship tournament for the third straight year and the fifth time in the last six years. They will be top-seeded and open against Tufts (Mass.) at 1 p.m. Thursday.