No. 3 Kean capitalizes on Chapman mistakes in 9-4 win
ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University baseball team suffered a tough loss to long-time East Coast rivals and No. 3-ranked Kean University (N.J.) 9-4 on Tuesday night at Hart Park. Chapman committed five errors and gave up six unearned runs, giving Kean the edge needed to snuff out the Panthers.
The loss snaps Chapman's three-game winning streak against Kean and drops the Panthers' home record to 4-7 in 2012.
Kean (11-4) did damage from the start scoring three first inning runs on three hits and capitalizing on two Chapman errors. The Cougars received timely hits from senior OF Vinny Galya (2-for-4, RBI) with an RBI double and senior OF Dylan Laguna (2-for-5, 2 RBI) with a two-run single.
Led offensively by junior 3B Tyler Surnbrock (3-for-3) and senior OF James Parr (2-for-5, RBI), Chapman rallied back in the second inning to tie the game 3-3. With the bases loaded and one out, the Panthers ran themselves out of a golden scoring opportunity after a single to left from Parr scored sophomore CF Connor Battaglia. Freshman DH Nick Portillo tried to score from second on the play only to be thrown out by Kean LF Shane Alvarez. The play continued on an errant throw to third by Cougars' C Eddie Jennings, but Alvarez was there for the backup and made a second throw to nail Chapman C Charlie James at the plate for the third out of the inning.
Chapman (9-12) scored once more in the third inning on back-to-back hits, a triple and double by 2B Mark Saatzer and OF Charlie Piro. The Panthers bats stayed silent the remainder of the game, managing only out two of their 11 hits after the third inning.
Kean broke open the 3-3 tie in the third after the Cougars loaded the bases on a walk, error and an infield single. Chapman RHP Kyle Tachibana (1-1) hit 1B Joe O'Connor with a pitch to score Alvarez, followed by an RBI fielders' choice by 3B Nick Ramagli to put Kean up 5-3.
The offensive momentum stayed with the Cougars who scored two in the fourth, and two additional runs in later innings to pull ahead of the Panthers 9-4. Kean SS Steve Sanguiliano (3-for-5, 2 RBI, 4 runs) and Jennings (3-for-5, 2 RBI) led the Cougars' offense for the night.
Kean LHP Ryan Zamorsky (3-0) limited Chapman to just one earned run and struck out seven in eight innings of work to earn the victory.
Chapman baseball faces Pomona-Pitzer in Claremont on Friday at 3 p.m. before hosting the Sagehens in a doubleheader on Saturday.
Box Score: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/boxscores/20120320_5eoc.xml
by Jessica Mitchell & Doug Aiken
Sports Information Intern and Sports Information Director
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