"Sweep" success; Panthers top McMurry 9-1 in series finale
ORANGE, Calif. - With the game tied, the No. 7 Chapman University baseball team scored eight two-out runs in the fourth inning against McMurry University as they cruised to a 9-1 victory on Saturday afternoon at Hart Park, completing the three-game sweep.
A fielding error by McMurry junior second baseman Bradd Baker with two outs and two on allowed senior 1B Matt Luzar to score from second base giving Chapman a 2-1 lead. With the bases loaded, a walk to junior CF Ryan Prechtl forced in a run pushing the Panthers' lead to 3-1.
McMurry (1-5) then decided to go to its bullpen removing starter Jack Hewitt for sophomore Deen Colman who promptly hit his first batter forcing in another run. The big hit of the inning came from freshman LF James Parr who cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple extending Chapman's lead to 7-1. The Panthers tacked on two more runs to close out the fourth inning with the 9-1 lead.
After the fourth inning however, Chapman (7-1) could not get its offense going as McMurry reliever Cory Davis pitched four shutout innings allowing just one hit while striking out six.
The lone run of the game for McMurry came in the top of the fourth inning when senior C Jeff Jackson singled through the left side, bringing in sophomore LF Jordan Brown who led off the inning with a triple. Chapman's freshman starting pitcher Travis McGee allowed just one run and six hits while striking out seven over the course of six innings.
Sophomore LHP Ben Levitt and freshman RHP Brian Rauh closed out the final three innings for the Panthers allowing just one hit while striking out three.
In the second inning, DH Adam Kordich got Chapman on the board with a two-out home run to left-center field. All nine of Chapman's runs came with two outs.
Chapman has now won seven straight games in its annual series against McMurry dating back to 2008.
by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant
Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2009-10/stats/mcm-cu3.htm