Offense rallies in support of pitching as Chapman takes two
ORANGE, Calif. – The Panther bats were as hot as the Southern California weather Saturday at Hart Park for Chapman University baseball's doubleheader sweep against Whitman College (WA). The Panthers collected 32 hits and outscored Whitman 20-1 in the two games, beating the Missionaries 13-1 and 7-0 to open the three-game weekend series.
Game 1: Chapman 13, Whitman 1
Chapman (15-19) was efficient with runners in scoring position throughout the entire game, producing timely hits that appeared contagious for the Panther offense to build upon. It was the highest scoring doubleheader outing of the season for the Panthers and led to their first sweep of the year.
Junior RHP Brian Rauh (6-1) allowed two hits and an unearned run in the first inning and then didn't allow another hit to the Missionaries over the remainder of his seven innings. He logged 15 strikeouts, one shy of his personal record and two shy of the Chapman record of 17 set by Wade Kitchens and Scott Akamine. It was Rauh's sixth start this season with 10 Ks or more.
Whitman (5-30) freshman CF Jonny Chow led off the game with a single and sophomore LF Aaron Cohen reached first on a two-out throwing error that advanced Chow to third. Sophomore DH Jimmy Madden sent Chow home with a single to center to put Whitman up 1-0. It was the only run the Panthers allowed on Saturday.
The Panthers answered in the first with three runs of their own on back-to-back-to-back RBI singles by senior RF Charlie Piro, sophomore CF Connor Battaglia and junior 3B Tyler Surnbrock to make it 3-1. Surnbrock went 3-for-3 with a triple in the game.
In the bottom of the fourth Chapman took advantage of Whitman mistakes as sophomore 2B Adam Coggan reached on an error and sophomore C Tabor Watson followed with a bunt single to put runners in scoring position for junior LF James Parr. Parr then drove Coggan in with a RBI double off the fence. An infield groundout and sacrifice fly brought Watson and Parr around to score and advance the Panther lead 6-1.
Chapman didn't settle with the 6-1 lead. In the sixth the Panthers pushed four more runs across on five hits including a double from sophomore SS Troy Newman and a triple from Watson to make it 10-1. The Panthers scored three more runs in the following two innings.
Six Panthers had at least two hits in the game, including Parr who went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Box Score: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/boxscores/20120421_98y7.xml
Game 2: Chapman 7, Whitman 0
The Chapman pitching staff tossed its third shutout of the season, led by starting junior RHP Travis McGee (4-5) who gave up only four hits and struck out 11 in the game to tie his career-high. Chapman pitchers allowed just six Missionary hits in the two games and recorded 28 strikeouts in the doubleheader.
The Panther offense lit up once again in the second inning, scoring Chapman's seven runs of the game on seven hits. The rally started with a one-out throwing error followed by consecutive singles by freshman DH Nick Portillo and Coggan and an RBI single to deep shortstop by Watson. A bases-loaded wild pitch allowed Portillo to score and set up Parr for a bases-clearing two-run single to right. Base hits from sophomore 1B Mark Saatzer and Piro and a triple from Battaglia capped off the Panther scoring for the inning and gave them a comfortable 7-0 lead.
Coggan went 3-for-4 in the game and was 5-for-7 in the doubleheader, while fellow infielder Saatzer also had two hits in each game.
Chapman cruised for the final seven innings scattering just four hits. Senior LHP Ben Levitt came in for McGee in the eighth to close the door on the Missionaries.
The Panthers face Whitman College at noon Sunday to finish off the series at Hart Park.
Box Score: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2011-12/boxscores/20120421_gxn7.xml
by Jessica Mitchell & Doug Aiken
Sports Information Intern and Sports Information Director
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