Chapman stays hot thanks to gem from Sigman

ORANGE, Calif. -  The Chapman University baseball team led from start to finish, defeating Spring Break rival Ithaca College (N.Y.) 5-2 at Hart Park on Wednesday night. The Panthers won for the ninth time in their past 10 games and for the fifth straight time against the Bombers, who have visited Orange during every Spring Break since 2002. Chapman leads the series 6-2.

Chapman (14-5) was led by a stellar outing from sophomore RHP Jordan Sigman who pitched 8 1/3 innings for his fourth victory of the year. Sigman took a four-hitter into the ninth before giving up back-to-back singles with one out in the inning. The righty gave way to the Panthers' closer John Semel who recorded the final two outs for his third save of the year.

The Panthers got on the board right away in the first inning. Junior OF Ryan Prechtl drew a leadoff walk then came around to score on an RBI single by senior IF Patrick Ohail. Chapman added an unearned run in the third on a first-and-third double steal to make it 2-0.

In the sixth, sophomore IF Tyler Hadzinsky doubled and advanced to third on a single by junior IF Halston Barcelo. After a passed ball allowed Hadzinsky to score, freshman DH Eric Robbins singled in Barcelo with the fourth run of the game.

Sigman's only blemish came in the top of the seventh when he surrendered a leadoff homer to David Ahonen - his first of the season.

Barcelo, Robbins and Semel all had two hits apiece to lead Chapman.