Early offense backs strong outing by Kitchens

ORANGE, Calif. -  The Chapman University baseball team did all the damage it needed in the first two innings, scoring seven runs and defeating visiting Cal Lutheran University 9-2 at Hart Park on Friday afternoon. The game featured two of the top-20 teams in Division III with Chapman entering the weekend ranked No. 9 and Cal Lutheran No. 18 in the nation according to D3Baseball.com.

A three-run home run by senior IF Tristan Phillips with one out in the first was all the offense the Panthers would need. Chapman (11-4) scored four in that frame and then struck for three more runs in the second inning to back two-time All-America RHP Wayde Kitchens. The senior improved to 4-1 this season and pitched his second complete game of the year, tossing an eight-hitter and striking out eight Kingsmen.

Meanwhile, the Panthers had another big day at the plate. Senior IF Patrick Ohail led the 16-hit attack, going 4-for-5 with a double and two RBI. Sophomore OF John Semel reached base in all five plate appearances with three hits, a triple, two walks and two stolen bases. Junior IF Halston Barcelo also had three hits for Chapman.

Chapman tacked on two more runs in the eighth on a bases-loaded ground rule double by sophomore C Adam Kordich. The Panthers have had no less than 13 hits in a game during their current six-game winning streak.

Cal Lutheran (10-2) suffered just its second loss of the season and managed only single runs in the second and fourth innings. The run in the fourth came on a solo home run by Paul Hartmann - his fourth of the season.

The two teams will conclude their home-and-home series on Saturday in Thousand Oaks at 1 p.m.