Panthers hold early lead against Stags to keep winning streak

ORANGE, Calif. - The Chapman University baseball team jumped out early and held an early lead over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps to defeat the Stags 4-2 at Hart Park on Friday afternoon. The Panther offense extended its winning streak to six with Friday's victory.

The Stags jumped on board early capitalizing on a Chapman error when Nolan Anderson singled to centerfield knocking in a Claremont run off of junior pitcher Matt Smith to take the lead 1-0. Smith pitched eight full innings racking up nine strikeouts and allowing just four hits and one unearned run.

The Panthers battled back when sophomore Joey Bernal led off the bottom of the first with a homerun to tighten the score 1-1. Junior Tyler Cook advanced three bases on a Stag throwing error to score bringing the score to 2-1.

In the sixth, freshman Conner Larkin showed aggressive base running when a pick-off at first encouraged him to steal second. The throwing error to second opened a window for junior Tim Alhanati to steal home from third base, raising the score to 3-1. Larkin finished the game with two stolen bases.

The final run for the Stags was the result of Anderson scoring on a double play in the top of the ninth to tighten the score 4-2.

The Panthers (9-5 overall, 6-4 SCIAC) will continue their three game-series against the Stags at Claremont-Mudd-Scripps beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday in Claremont. The Panthers will then go on to host Spalding University  (K.Y.) on Sunday, March 15 at 1 p.m. at Hart Park.

by Marissa Maynor and Raquel Rinauro
Sports Information Intern & Sports Information Assistant

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