Despite walk-off loss, Panthers take the series from La Verne

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University baseball team earned a much-needed series win over visiting University of La Verne as the two squads split a doubleheader at Hart Park on Monday to conclude the three-game series. Following a win on Sunday night, the Panthers took the first game of the doubleheader with a 10-3 victory. La Verne then used a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the ninth to salvage the final game of the series 4-3.

Game 1: Chapman 10, La Verne 3
A six-run fourth inning was the big blow for Chapman which won back-to-back games for the first time since early February. Already leading 3-0, the Panthers sent 10 men to the plate in the fourth and collected six hits including a two-run triple by freshman DH Nick Portillo and a two-run single by senior IF Steve Greenberg. Sophomore IF Mark Saatzer also had an RBI double in the inning, helping Chapman jump out to a 9-0 advantage.

All of the offense was in support of junior RHP Travis McGee who allowed just five hits and one earned run in garnering his third victory of the season. McGee also set down seven Leopards on strikes. Junior RHP Christian Maietta tossed three hitless innings in relief to earn his first save of the year.

Greenberg finished 3-for-4 with four RBI in the game, including a two-run single in the first inning. Junior OF James Parr was also 3-for-4 from the leadoff spot with two runs scored and a stolen base. For the second game in a row, the Panthers collected double-digit hits with 11.

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/boxscores/20120319_0dc6.xml

Game 2: La Verne 4, Chapman 3
Originally scheduled as a home game for La Verne, the Leopards were the designated home team in the finale and got the most out of their last ups in the ninth. With the score tied at 3-3, IF Michael Stewart led off the bottom of the inning with a single, stole second and three batters later scored on a double to left by IF Zach Canfield, giving La Verne a come-from-behind walk-off win.

Chapman (9-11) built a 3-1 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning thanks to a two-out, two-run single from sophomore OF Connor Battaglia which plated both junior OF Charlie Piro and Saatzer.

La Verne (14-8) rallied for single runs in the third and fifth innings to tie the game. Meanwhile, Leopards RHP reliever Nathan Rollon quieted the Chapman bats during the sixth, seventh and eighth innings. In fact, after an infield hit by Piro in the fifth, the Panthers didn't get a hit again until Parr hit a one-out double in the ninth, but was stranded at second.

Parr led Chapman once again going 3-for-5 with an RBI single in the second inning. In the three-game series, Parr went 9-for-13 (.692) with three extra-base hits.

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/boxscores/20120319_zndv.xml

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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