Hu Records 100th Hit, Lawrence Knocks Two Home Runs in Double Header at Cal Lutheran

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif.) - Senior Megan Hu (Katy, Texas / Seven Lakes) recorded her 100th career hit and freshman Faith Lawrence (Peachtree Corners, Ga. / Norcross) hit the program's first grand slam as the Carnegie Mellon University softball team split a double header at Cal Lutheran on Tuesday, March 8. The Tartans scored nine runs in the top of the sixth inning in game one to eventually win 16-15 before falling 6-5 in game two to move to 5-4 for the year.

Game 1 - W, 16-15

The Tartans knocked out a season-best 22 hits in 40 at bats in the seven-inning game that took two hours and 36 minutes to finish.

With a single in the first inning, Hu became the first Tartan to record 100 career hits. She would go on to collect another two singles in the game.

With the Tartans trailing 13-4, Lawrence hit her first career home run, a three-run shot to right center in the top of the fifth inning to bring the score to 13-7.

After Maya Goodwin (Camden, N.J. / Leap Academy) got three outs in four batters in the bottom of the fifth, the Tartans initiated the comeback with nine runs off nine hits and three errors in the top of the sixth to take a 16-13 lead. The first six batters reached base by either a hit or hit by pitch. Lawrence's grand slam was the fifth hit of the inning and made it a one-run lead for Cal Lutheran with no outs. Freshman Erika Heffernen (Moorestown, N.J. / Moorestown) recorded two RBIs on a single before senior Emily Song (Mount Arlington, N.J. / Roxbury) and freshman Libby Eichberger (Aurora, Ill. / Metea Valley) recorded their second hits of the inning, each also knocking in a run to make it 16-13.

Three straight singles for Cal Lutheran in the bottom of the seventh scored one run and left runners at first and third. Goodwin then got help from the defense as Song turned a double play but allowed a run to score bringing the tying run to the plate. In the end, Goodwin got the final out on a line drive to second to complete the comeback.

Lawrence's two home runs in the same game is a first for the Tartans while her seven RBIs is the most in a single game in Tartan history.

Game 2 - L, 6-5

The Tartans started game two with three hits and three runs in the top of the first inning with junior Emily Finger (Aurora, Ill. / Metea Valley) knocking in three with a double to left center. Finger would single to center field in her next at bat which scored junior Piper Johnson (Riverside, Calif. / Martin Luther King), who singled down the left field line, to make it 4-1 in the third inning.

Cal Lutheran chipped away at the deficit with one run in each of the first four innings before plating two in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-4 lead.

The Tartans answered with a run in the sixth but couldn't capitalize and left two runners on base before Mia Garcia was able to get three straight outs in the final inning to preserve the Regals victory.

Senior Audrey Pederson (Bedford, N.H. / Bedford) had three hits in the game to lead the Tartans who collected 10 hits for the game.

The Tartans return to play for the third straight day on Wednesday, March 9, at Whittier College for a double header starting at 12:30 p.m. PT.