LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 29, 2008) – In Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action today Occidental College and Cal Lutheran University battled but the Regals took a pair of close games, 3-0 and 7-6, from the Tigers on Bell Field.

The difference in game one was a first pitch, pinch hit, swing by Megan Allain who connected for a three-run homerun to left field in the top of the seventh inning to break a scoreless game. 

Oxy got a pair of runners on base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but came up just short.

In game two, the bats were hot as the teams combined for 19 hits. CLU again struck first with a pair of runs in the first inning. The Tigers clawed back to even things at 2-2 with a two out, two RBI single off the bat of first baseman Alyssa Smith.  

The Regals responded with four runs on five hits over the next two innings to take a 6-2 lead.

Oxy put together a three-run fourth cutting the deficit to 6-5. Lindsay Gross and Smith both drew walks before freshman shortstop Gabriela Chavez connected for her second double of the game, to score both. Chavez crossed the plate one batter later when Stephanie Egan singled to center field. 

Teresa Barbarant led off the bottom of the seventh with a solo homerun, her second of the year, to pull the Tigers within a run, but that was the final run of the game for Oxy.

Chavez led the Oxy offense with a 3-for-4 performance in game two, while Smith was 1-for-2. They combined for four RBIs and two runs. 

Occidental falls to 3-19 overall and remain winless in SCIAC action at 0-10, while Cal Lutheran improves to 14-12, 6-8 SCIAC.

The Tigers will be back on the diamond tomorrow for a double-header against Whittier College beginning at 12:00 p.m. as a re-scheduled series from Feb. 23.