Late-inning miscues cost No. 2 Chapman in 3-1 loss to Claremont

ORANGE, Calif. – For much of the game, the No. 2 Chapman University baseball team kept Claremont-Mudd-Scripps scoreless, without a hit. The final few innings were a different story as Claremont took advantage of several Chapman misplays to squeak out a 3-1, upset win on Tuesday afternoon at Hart Park. Chapman had won its last 15 games against Claremont, last losing in the series 11-6 in 2004.

Chapman (4-2) got its lone run in the third inning on an RBI infield hit to the shortstop by sophomore OF Adam Velez. Stags' sophomore starting pitcher Brett Watanabe limited Chapman to one run on four hits over seven innings of work. Chapman starter Travis McGee held Claremont without a hit until the seventh inning when freshman IF Brian Gose led off the inning with a single. McGee gave up just two hits and two walks while striking out six in eight innings.

In the eighth inning, Watanabe led off with a single to left and eventually came around to tie the score at 1-1 after a pair of passed balls led to an unearned run. Then in the ninth, after an error by Chapman IF Tyler Surnbrock kept the inning alive for Claremont (2-4), Watanabe came through again, this time with the game-winning two-run double down the left field line off of senior P Ben Levitt to take a 3-1 lead.

The Panthers had an opportunity to mount a rally in the bottom of the ninth with the bases loaded and two outs but could not get a clutch base hit.

by Chris Watts
Sports Information Assistant

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/boxscores/20120214_ji42.xml

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