LOS ANGELES – Ali Goldberg (Los Altos) went 3 for 4 with two runs scored, Jacqueline Shimamoto (Santa Clarita) was 2 for 2 with a double and a triple, and the Occidental College softball team rallied to tie Game 1 against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps 3-3 in the sixth inning.

But CMS responded with four runs in the seventh and Oxy went down in order in the bottom half, losing Game 1 of a doubleheader with the Athenas (15-6, 8-2 SCIAC) 7-3 on Saturday.

Shimamoto tripled to bring home Goldberg, and then Kristine Kocjan (Redwood City) knocked in Shimamoto with a single to left, evening what had been a low-scoring Game 1.

It didn't last long.

In their next turn at the plate, the Athenas strung together five hits, including two extra-base hits, to put the game out of reach.

Ashley Noone (Orange) brought in Oxy's first run in the fourth and the Tigers (11-13, 2-10 SCIAC) nearly added more. Noone's single scored Goldberg easily from third, but Shimamoto was thrown out at the plate on the hard-hit liner, trying to score from second. With two outs and runners on first and second later in the inning, Patricia Phillimeano (Roseville) had a bloop single stolen from her by a great diving catch by CMS shortstop Megan Latta in shallow left field.

Oxy wasn't as close in 15-0 five-inning loss in Game 2. The Mariah Montgomery (Riverside) had the Tigers' only hit and the CMS bats got hot. The Athenas racked up 16 hits, scoring five runs in the first inning to quickly put the game away.

Oxy returns to action next Saturday, hosting Pomona-Pitzer for a doubleheader beginning at noon.