ORANGE, Calif. - The Chapman University baseball team defeated George Fox (Ore.) 4-1 on opening-day of the four-game series at Hart Park on Friday afternoon. The Panthers have won six of their last seven games at home this season improving Chapman to a 7-3 record at Hart Park.

Junior pitcher Matt Smith tossed nine complete innings for a career-high of 10 strikeouts, allowing just one run while improving his record to 5-1 this season.  

The Panthers jumped on the board first when junior Tyler Cook knocked in freshman Gavin Blodgett to start the Chapman offense and put the Panthers up 1-0. The Panthers then went on to score two more runs in the second inning increasing their lead 3-0.

Chapman added its fourth and final run in the third when freshman Jared Love knocked in junior David Basen on a two-out rally to extend the Panthers lead 4-0.

In the seventh the Bruins battled back to score their first and only run off back-to-back singles by Jacob Woehler and Andrew Reichenbach to tighten the score 4-1.

The Panther offense was led by Cook and Love who finished the game 3-for-4 each at the plate. While Reichenbach led George Fox offensively finishing the game 2-for-4 with a double.

The Panthers (13-6 overall) will continue their four-game series against George Fox (10-12 overall) at Hart Park on Saturday, March 21 with first pitch of the doubleheader set at noon.   

by Raquel Rinauro
Sports Information Assistant

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