Baseball finishes off convincing sweep of Caltech

ORANGE, Calif — Twenty-five hits, 24 runs, three homers — including a pair of back-to-back blasts, and two outstanding starts on the mound are just cracking the surface of accomplishments the baseball team achieved in Saturday, Apr. 9's double header and series sweep over the Caltech Beavers.

Game 1 — W, 16-2 (7 innings)

A nine-run bottom of the fourth helped the Panthers pull away in this one. An inning prior, however, the Panthers big bats of Davis Mieliwocki and Cooper Foard went back-to-back, Mielwocki's a two-run bomb and Foard's a solo shot. 

Fastforwarding back to the fourth, the Panthers hit around in the order, eight different Panthers drove in runs, it was the true definition of a hit parade.

On the mound, Wyatt Thompson continued his dominance. Striking out eight batters over five innings of work, allowing only two runs. He earned his sixth win of the season.

Game 2 — W, 8-2

Foard added yet another home run in this one. It's his fourth straight game with a bomb and he's now 9-for-20 in his last five games. 

Max Banks had his best performance in game two since facing Cal Lutheran in mid-March. The freshman hurler earned the win allowing two runs, neither earned, over five innings of work, striking out six Beavers.

The Panthers got to scoring early with the third batter of the game, AJ Anzai driving in Nick Kondo, who doubled to lead off the game, with a double of his own. The Panthers scored two more in the second, one coming from a wacky play on the base paths. Austin Dudas — a standout performer today doubling twice — found himself in a pickle at third following a first-and-third steal by Nick Kondo. Dudas broke for the plate and scored as the catcher dropped the throw from the third baseman.

Dudas drove in the 24th and final Chapman run on the day with his second double in the right-center field gap.

With the wins, Chapman improved to 20-7 on the season and 9-3 in SCIAC play. Caltech fell to 6-22 and 2-13.

The Panthers have a big test next week as they'll take on Cal Lutheran in game one of a three-game set, with first pitch scheduled for 3 p.m. at Hart Park on Friday, Apr. 15.

By Joe Perrino

Assistant SID / Recreation Sports Manager

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