Shimabuku's walkoff highlights split with Blues

ORANGE, Calif. – Brad Shimabuku hit a game-winning single in the early game to help the Chapman University baseball team split a doubleheader with visiting Whitman. The Panthers took game on 4-3 on Shumabuku's game-winner but dropped the series with a 4-2 loss in the finale.

Game 1 – L, 5-0

Before Shimabuku's ninth inning heroics, the pitching combo of Wyatt Thompson and AJ Anzai was magnificent for the Panthers. Thompson went seven strong innings, allowing just three unearned runs on three hits while striking out nine. Anzai followed with a pair of spotless innings and struck out a pair without allowing a hit to pick up his second win this week.

Thompson really only ran into trouble in the third after an error extended the inning with two runners on base. A double, a single and another error followed in the third to allow all three Whitman runs to come home.

Oli Sellman just missed a home run as he doubled off the wall to put the Panthers up 1-0 in the second. Josh Phillips tied the game with his first home run of the year in the fourth inning. His moonshot drifted over the wall I left center for a two-run homer.

The Panthers stranded 10 runners on base in the game but loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth. A walk, a single from Anzai and another walk put the winning run on third. After a pop out to shallow right, Shimabuku came to the plate and dropped the game-winner in to right field to score Cole Minato from third.

Shimabuku went 3-for-5 at the plate while Anzai went 2-for-5 in addidtion to picking up the win on the mound.

Game 2 – L, 6-2

Whitman scored all four runs in the second inning with two outs to take the late game and the series from the Panthers. Four hits and a walk set up the big inning for the Blues that provided enough of a lead for the pitching staff to seal the win.

Chapman left another 11 runners on base and had just five hits. Chapman's first run came when Ryan Nopper bounced out to the mound but Shimabuku was able to sprint home when the throw went to first for the force out.

The Panther pitching staff combined to strike out 13 batters in game two and the bullpen accounted for four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits. Graham Stogner struck out three in a pair of scoreless and hitless innings.

Wyatt Adams limited Chapman to just four hits over seven innings before giving way to the bullpen. After a scoreless eighth, Garrett Runyan ran into trouble in the ninth with back-to-back walks to open the inning.

Rylan Burigsay came into the tough spot but a strikeout and pop out put him one out away from the save. Minato extended the game with a single to load the bases and Drew Hallgran drew a bases loaded walk to score a run and move the tying run to second. Burigsay won the last matchup with a bouncer to first to secure his second save.

The Panthers are back home on Tuesday to take on Nebraska Wesleyan at 3 p.m. The Panthers will host their next six games and 11 of their next 13.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

Become a fan of Chapman Athletics on Facebook
Follow Chapman Athletics on Twitter @ChapmanSports
Post your #PantherPic to Instagram @ChpmanSports