ORANGE, Calif. - Trailing 6-4 in the eighth inning, the Chapman
University baseball team scored three runs in the eighth and added
six more in the ninth to defeat the University of Redlands on the
second day of the Chapman Invitational at Hart Park on Saturday
afternoon. The Panthers pounded 17 hits and earned a season-split
with Redlands, a win apiece.
The hero of the day was junior OF Ryan Prechtl,
whose fifth homer of the season - a two-run shot - tied the game in
the eighth and sparked Chapman's offensive surge. His two-run
single in the ninth also started the Panthers' rally in that
inning. Prechtl had four hits on the day and was a double shy of
the cycle. The junior also scored three runs and drove in four.
Senior IF Tristan Phillips had two-run singles
in the first and ninth innings, also driving in four runs. And
sophomore OF/RHP John Semel was 3-for-5 with a
double, stolen base and three runs scored. Semel's stolen base was
his team-leading 16th of the season.
The late-inning runs made a winner out of senior RHP
Matt Irsfeld in his first career start. Irsfeld
(2-1) allowed just six hits and four earned runs (six total) in
seven innings of work. The righty gave way to the Panthers' closer
Semel, who pitched two hitless innings to earn his sixth save of
the year.
Needing every win it can get to remain in playoff contention for
an NCAA at-large postseason berth, Chapman (23-13) has rebounded
from its recent skid of six losses in seven games and has now won
back-to-back games for the first time since the end of March. The
Panthers also improved to 14-5 at Hart Park this season with four
games remaining - all at home.
The Panthers close out Chapman Invitational play against Menlo
College on Sunday at 2 p.m. at Hart Park.
Box score: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2008-09/stats/ur-cu.htm
