THOUSAND OAKS – As it did during the regular season, the Cal Lutheran University baseball team rose above all comers in the conference, defeating Chapman University in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament final 7-2 at Ullman Stadium on Sunday to earn an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs. Meanwhile, the Panthers must wait hopeful for an at-large bid to the Regional Tournament when the NCAA announces its selections on May 12.

Unbeaten in the tournament, Cal Lutheran (34-8) had up to two chances to win one game on Sunday and only needed one, jumping on Chapman (30-13) with three runs in the first inning and never looking back.

Trailing 5-0 in the fifth, the Panthers got on the board with a leadoff solo home run to left by senior OF Connor Battaglia. Chapman loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning before sophomore DH Matt Gandy delivered an RBI single to make it 6-2, but the Kingsmen got out of the jam without further damage by turning an inning-ending double play. Battaglia finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base, but the Panther lineup collected just six hits on the day.

Senior RHP Taber Watson got touched for five runs (three earned) on five hits over four innings to suffer the loss and drop his season record to 5-4.

The SCIAC title and automatic berth is the second straight for Cal Lutheran.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

Boxscore: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2013-14/boxscores/20140504_g0ju.xml

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