FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHAPMAN TAKES TWO OF THREE IN SEASON OPENING SERIES AGAINST CAL LUTHERAN

ORANGE, Calif. – After losing a wild opening game, the Chapman University baseball team came back to win the second game to earn a doubleheader split with Cal Lutheran University on Saturday at Hart Park. With their 7-3 victory over the Kingsmen in Thousand Oaks on Friday, the Panthers took two of three in the season opening series for both teams.

Game 1: Cal Lutheran 11, Chapman 10
The Panthers rallied from 3-0, 6-4 and 8-7 deficits and led 10-8 in the top of the eighth inning, but the Kingsmen took advantage of a bases-loaded balk, a wild pitch and an RBI groundout to score three runs and regain the lead for good 11-10. Cal Lutheran received solo home runs from Eddie Styles and Drew Caldwell in the fifth and sixth innings, and then a two-run blast from Lee Ellis in the seventh. Cal Lutheran was out-hit 14-12 by Chapman.

Chapman’s freshman first baseman Patrick Ohail – who was 4-for-5 in his collegiate debut on Friday, including a home run in his first at-bat – reached base all five times in the first game, going 4-for-4 with a double, walk and RBI. Freshman Matt Pearson also had three hits, including a double for Chapman.

Game 2: Chapman 6, Cal Lutheran 4
Junior right-hander Kyle Johnson earned his first career victory, scattering seven hits and four runs – one of which was earned – and striking out four batters in six innings. Senior right-hander Devin Drag was lights out once again in relief. After two perfect innings for the save in Friday’s game, Drag earned his second save of the season with three innings on Saturday, striking out seven and allowing just one harmless single.

Chapman capitalized on six Cal Lutheran errors to score five unearned runs in the game, including four in the second inning. Sophomore outfielder Jarrod Sammett singled in a pair of runs in the inning. Senior outfielder Brian Brubaker singled twice and drove in a pair of runs and freshman shortstop Kurt Yacko collected two hits, including a double for Chapman.

Third baseman Christian Hariot hit a three-run home run in the third inning to keep Cal Lutheran close, but Johnson and Drag held the Kingsmen to just one run on five hits thereafter.

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Game stats available online:
/athletics/05-06/baseball/clu-cu1.htm
/athletics/05-06/baseball/clu-cu2.htm
NEXT CU BASEBALL GAME: Friday, February 10th vs. Pomona-Pitzer; 2:30 p.m.