Baseball drops close one in SCIAC tournament opener
ORANGE, Calif— A tough loss for baseball in the first game of the SCIAC tournament, 4-3 to Cal Lutheran on Friday, May 13, puts the Panthers in the losers' bracket tomorrow.
The Panthers got off to a hot start scoring two quick runs. Drew Littwin singled in the team's second at bat of the game, which Cooper Foard quickly followed with a one-out double. After advancing to third, Foard was brought home by AJ Anzai, who continued to stay hot at the plate going 2-for-4 today, with a single through the right side.
Grant Manning was cruising on the hill, shutting down the Kingsmen bats through the first four innings. Manning struck out four and allowed only two hits before Cal Lutheran broke through in the fifth, but not before Davis Mieliwocki tacked on a Chapman run with a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth.
In the fifth the Kingsmen answered for two, shortening Chapman's lead to 3-2. As the game progressed, Chapman struggled to hit with runners in scoring position, going 0-for-4 with runners at second and third base in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Kingsmen tied the game in the eighth, and the Panthers looked to answer. With runners on first and second with two away, Oli Sellman singled to right field. A strong throw from the right fielder, Sean Blandino, gunned down Mieliwocki trying to score from second keeping the game notched at three.
The Kingsmen took the lead in the ninth after Mike Gorman, who earned the loss, allowed a two-out double to Austin Carillo bringing home Blandino who walked, and stole second.
The Panthers were unable to answer in the ninth ending Chapman's 10-game winning streak and placing them in the losers' bracket tomorrow at 10 a.m. The Panthers fell to 31-10 with the loss and will take on Pomona-Pitzer at Hart Park tomorrow, who also lost 4-3.
By Joe Perrino
Assistant SID / Recreation Sports Manager
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