Osaki wins, Carbajal homers as Chapman knocks off Redlands

ORANGE, Calif. – Chapman University senior RHP Kevin Osaki earned his first victory since returning from Tommy John surgery and Panthers' head baseball coach Scott Laverty knocked off his former team with a 4-2 win over visiting University of Redlands at Hart Park on Friday afternoon. Chapman (15-8 overall, 11-5 SCIAC) took the opener of a three-game weekend conference series that shifts to Redlands for a doubleheader on Saturday.

Osaki, who has made seven appearances, six starts and earned five no-decisions this season, pitched effectively into the eighth inning on Friday – his longest outing of the year. The senior missed the entire 2013 season recovering from elbow surgery and picked up his first win this season, scattering eight hits (five infield singles) and allowing two runs.

Sophomore RHP Ben Vietze and senior RHP Taber Watson combined to shut the door on Redlands (9-17 overall, 8-8 SCIAC) and protect the lead for Osaki's victory. Watson induced a fielder's choice with the tying run on base for the final out of the game and his fourth save of the year.

Meanwhile, Chapman's offense got a lift from the top and bottom of its order. Senior OF and leadoff batter Andrew Carbajal put the Panthers on the board immediately with a solo homer in the bottom of the first to give them a 1-0 lead. The blast to left field was Carbajal's second of the season and he finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases.

Sophomore IF Tim Alhanati (No. 2 batter) went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and sophomore C David Basen (No. 9 batter) also collected two hits in four trips to the plate.

With the Panthers leading 2-1 in the sixth, Chapman received two critical insurance runs in the inning. The Panthers got four hits and a walk in the inning to chase Redlands' freshman RHP Hayden Haight, including RBI singles from Carbajal and senior IF Mark Saatzer to make it 4-1.

Redlands was led by junior OF Connor Hancock who went 4-for-5 with a double and two runs. Haight (2-3) suffered the loss after surrendering eight hits and five walks in 5 2/3 innings.

With the win, the Panthers keep pace with first-place Whittier (11-2) and second-place Cal Lutheran (10-3), one and a half games back in third, and are now a full two games ahead of La Verne (7-5) in fourth place.

This was the first meeting between Chapman's Coach Laverty and Redlands, where he coached from 2000-13 and amassed 298 wins and two SCIAC titles.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/boxscores/20140328_o3ph.xml

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