Willits hits walkoff single, Chapman splits with No. 13 Webster

ORANGE, Calif. – Freshman Trevor Willits delivered a walkoff single in the ninth inning of game two to help the Chapman University baseball team split with No. 13 Webster University on Saturday at Hart Park. The Panthers fell to the Gorlock 10-3 in game one and rallied to defeat Webster 3-2 in game two.

Game 1: Webster 10, Chapman 3  

Webster posted to quick runs in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead in game one. The Gorloks tacked on two more in the second inning with a base hit by Brandon Smith to lift Webster's lead to 4-0 in the second. By the fourth inning Webster had strung together a 10-0 lead off of four hits and four errors.

Trailing 10-0, freshman Konnor Zickefoose singled on a shallow blooper to right center, following back-to-back base hits for bunts to put the Panthers on the board 10-1 in the fourth. Freshmen Anthony DeNiro and Alex Tsuruda then posted a pair of RBI for Chapman in the ninth to help the Panthers to 10-3.

Senior Matt Molnar suffered his first loss of the season after tossing just two innings and giving up nine runs. Junior Josh Norwood relieved Molnar in the third, giving up just one hit in seven innings pitched for the Panthers.  

Game 2: Chapman 3, Willits 2

Trailing 2-1 in the seventh inning of game two, sophomore Conner Larkin homered to the right side to tie the game up for the Panthers 2-2. With the pressure on, tied 2-2 in the ninth, pinch hitter Willits came up clutch with a walkoff single to left field to score pinch runner DeNiro and give Chapman the 3-2 win.

Freshmen Tsuruda and Matt Ryhlick picked up a pair of hits each for the Panthers in the night cap, while Andrew Mendonca recorded an RBI single for Chapman.

After tossing seven innings, including five scoreless ones, senior RHP Matt Smith struck out 10 batters and gave up just four hits. Freshman RHP Matt Mogollon earned the win for Chapman, improving to 2-3 on the season, giving up no hits in his two innings pitched.

Chapman will continue its home game home stand on Wednesday, March 9. The Panthers will host East Mennonite at 7 p.m. at Hart Park.

by Raquel Rinauro
Sports Information Assistant

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