Baseball sweeps three-game set with La Verne

ORANGE, Calif. – The Chapman University baseball team completed the three-game sweep in a weekend SCIAC series with visiting University of La Verne with a pair of wins on Saturday, 16-4 and 10-1 at Hart Park. After winning the series opener on Friday 13-4, the Panthers improved to 5-1 in conference play this year with the doubleheader sweep and climbed over .500 for the first time since their season-opening win over Cal State San Marcos.

Game 1: Chapman 16, La Verne 4 (7 innings)

The Panthers scored multiple runs in all but the second inning, jumping out to a 4-0 lead in the first and then hanging five runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn the 'run rule' 7-inning shortened win. Senior OF Andrew Carbajal hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, one of Chapman's 15 hits in the game on its way to a season-high 16 runs. Senior IF Mark Saatzer was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI and junior IF Tim Alhanati homered in the first inning, his team-leading second HR of the season.

The offensive explosion was all in support of sophomore RHP Braden Riddle who tossed five innings of six-hit ball, allowing just two earned runs with five strikeouts. Riddle improved to 2-1 this season with the win.

Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/boxscores/20140222_aib8.xml

Game 2: Chapman 10, La Verne 1

Sophomore RHP Matt Smith's only blemish in five innings was a solo homer in the fourth. Otherwise, the Chapman starter was outstanding, limiting La Verne to just two hits while striking out nine en route to his second win of the season (2-0).

Chapman (6-4 overall, 5-1 SCIAC) again scored runs in each of the first five innings to build a 9-1 lead through five. Junior OF Greg Dillon's two-run single in the fourth gave the Panthers a 7-1 lead. Dillon reached base four times in the game, including three walks. Sophomore IF Tyler Cook went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored. And sophomore DH Brandon Demerest came off the bench to collect two hits, including a solo homer in the eighth to aid the Chapman offense.

Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/boxscores/20140222_38t4.xml

Chapman out-scored La Verne (3-7 overall, 2-4 SCIAC) 39-9 in the three-game series. The Panthers have now won five straight games – all in conference – and will next face reigning SCIAC champions Cal Lutheran University in a three-game series beginning Friday, Feb. 28 at Hart Park. First pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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