Panthers shutout rival Kean University 5-0

ORANGE, Calif. -  Led by senior All-American pitcher Wayde Kitchens' four-hit shutout, the Chapman University baseball team defeated the No. 4 ranked Kean University (NJ) Cougars 5-0 on Saturday night at Hart Park. The win marks the Panthers' ninth straight victory at home and fourth consecutive win against Kean dating back to last season.

Chapman (15-5) took a 2-0 first-inning lead off of Cougar starter junior Joe Bartlinski. Senior IF Patrick Ohail gave the Panthers their first run of the game on a run-scoring groundout which brought home junior OF Ryan Prechtl. With runners on first and third, junior C Joe Lehman then singled down the right field line to score sophomore OF John Semel.

The Panthers added a run in the second, fifth and sixth innings pushing their lead to 5-0 which would be all the run support that Kitchens would need. The Panther starter held the Cougars hitless until a lead-off single by freshman IF D.J. Breckenridge in the sixth inning.

In the seventh inning, Kean (9-2) loaded the bases with one out but could not capitalize as Kitchens got freshman OF Ryan Gibbons to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Kitchens (5-1) closed out the final two innings, allowing just one hit, for his fourth complete game of the season. After losing his first start against Kean University in 2007, Kitchens has now won three-consecutive outings against the Cougars.

Junior OF Ryan Prechtl led the Panthers offensive attack going 2-for-3 in the leadoff spot with two RBI, two walks and a run scored.