ORANGE, Calif. – Chapman University junior IF John Wiehe hit a walk-off RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Panthers a 7-6 win over visiting No. 6 Kean University (N.J.) on Tuesday night at Hart Park. The win was Chapman's third in a row over the perennial top-10 team and sixth in their past seven meetings, including two wins at the Division III national championships in 2011 and 2009.

Chapman (12-6) also has now won nine of its past 10 games overall and six of seven at home.

It was a back-and-forth affair on Tuesday night as Kean (8-3) jumped out to a 3-1 lead with three runs in the third inning. But Chapman scored single runs in the fourth and seventh innings to knot it at 3-3 on an RBI double by sophomore OF Joey Bernal.

Chapman senior RHP Kevin Klaess held the Cougars at bay after the three-run third, tossing four and two-thirds scoreless innings after. Klaess was lifted with two outs in the eighth, having allowed three runs and five hits with five strikeouts and was not around for the decision.

Meanwhile, the Panthers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a two-run triple by freshman IF Jared Love and an RBI single by sophomore DH Forrest Wiederman. Love finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

In the top of the ninth, Kean came back with three runs without the benefit of a hit to tie the game at 6-6. The Cougars took advantage of three walks, two hit batters and an error in the inning to extend the drama.

Chapman junior IF Tyler Cook reached base with one out in the ninth on a dropped pop up in the infield, advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third with two outs on a fly ball to right. Wiehe then delivered the game-winning base hit just inside the right field line. Wiehe was 2-for-3 in the game.

The Panthers are in the midst of a seven-game homestand and will host George Fox University (Ore.) in a four-game series beginning Friday at 3 p.m. at Hart Park.

by Doug Aiken
Sports Information Director

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