CLAREMONT, Calif. - Giselle Lai had a bunt single to set up the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps softball team rallied from a 4-1 deficit to win the opening game of a doubleheader with Whittier 5-4 on Saturday at Athena Field. 

Whittier bounced back to win the nightcap 5-2 with a four-run sixth to salvage a split. CMS moves to 17-11 overall on the year and 8-7 in the SCIAC, while Whittier moves to 16-18 overall and 2-13 in league play. 

CMS trailed 4-1 in the fifth inning in the opener when it rallied to tie with a three-run fifth. Mrdah Murali started the inning with a single, and Sophia Nugyen had an infield single to load the bases. After an error closed the gap to 4-2, Averi O had a clutch two-out single to tie it. 

In the eighth an error opened the door, and Rachel Sapirstein walked to put two on with none out. Lai then had a perfect bunt, which she beat out, and the throw got away down the line to allow pinch-runner Megan Kho to score. 

Perri Derian threw 4.2 innings of shutout relief to get the win, allowing just three hits. Kaili Aqui and Nguyen each had two hits on the day. Emma Suh added an RBI single in the first to score Aqui. 

In the nightcap, Lai had an RBI single in the second to tie the score, and Madison Gonzalez had an RBI single in the third to give CMS a 2-1 lead. After Whittier scored four in the sixth, Avia Tuguldur was robbed of extra bases with two on and two out by a shoestring catch from center fielder Sara Luna. 

Derian allowed just three hits in the nightcap in seven innings of work, and took a no-decision after coming out for two batters in the sixth. Aqui finished 3-for-4 for the Athenas. 

CMS will be back in action next weekend for a three-game series with Pomona-Pitzer, beginning with a home game on Friday at 3 p.m.