Seniors play like it's their last, but hope it's not

ORANGE, Calif. -  The Panthers hope that 10-4 isn't "over and out". The Chapman University baseball team won its final game, defeating visiting University of Dallas 10-4 at Hart Park on Sunday afternoon and finished the regular season winning five of its final six games. The Panthers may have done just enough to secure an at-large playoff berth into the NCAA Division III regionals for a seventh straight year when the bids are announced next Monday.

The heart of the Chapman batting order - highlighted by two of the five seniors celebrating ‘Senior Day' - made the difference in the game as the Panthers scored eight of their 10 runs with two outs. Chapman's 2-5 hitters combined to go 7-for-16 with nine RBI and seven runs scored.

Following a second-inning home run from Dallas LHP Gabe Sandersius, the Panthers rallied in the bottom of the inning to score six runs. With the bases loaded and two outs, freshman DH Ben Owens singled in two and sophomore OF John Semel followed with a two-run single of his own. Senior IF Patrick Ohail then belted a two-run home run, his fourth of the year, to make it 6-1. Ohail also moved into a tie for fifth in Chapman history with 18 career dingers.

Chapman (26-14) added two more in the fourth and tacked on single runs in the sixth and eighth, both coming on RBI singles from senior IF Tristan Phillips. In fact, in their final career at-bats at Hart Park, Ohail hit a two-out double in the eighth and Phillips followed with the RBI single to left, his third RBI of the game and 60th of the year.

The run support was more than enough for junior RHP Matt Luzar who earned his first complete-game victory of the year. The righty scattered 11 hits and allowed just one earned run while striking out four and improved to 3-3.

The Panthers were ranked No. 6 in the West Region as of last week and now must wait a week to find out if they will get the chance to defend their West Region championship for fifth consecutive time.

Game Box: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/stats/ud-cu3.htm