ORANGE, Calif. – More stellar pitching and an eighth inning rally led the Chapman University baseball team to a SCIAC series-opening 3-1 win over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday. Freshman Max Banks had another quality start and Dylan Holt shut down the Stags late for the win.

The Panthers and Stags came into the eighth inning tied 1-1 with both offenses struggling to string hits together. After back-to-back hit batters, Holt took over on the mound for Banks with no outs. Banks had allowed just one run on three hits while striking out five.

A short fly out to center, a strikeout and a grounder to second ended the threat with no damage on scoreboard and sent the Panthers into the bottom half with momentum. A Cole Minato single was followed by a sacrifice bunt to put the go-ahead run in scoring position.

Drew Littwin laced a double down the line and into the left field corner to score Minato. The Stags then intentionally walked Davis Mieliwoci but Connor Montgomery cashed in Littwin with a single into left for the 3-1 lead.

Holt walked a batter in the ninth but left him stranded on second as the Panthers claimed the win in their first SCIAC game.

Nick Kondo went 2-for-3 and scored Chapman's first run in the first inning. Ryan Warm pitched all eight innings for the Stags, striking out four and allowing three runs on seven hits.

Banks has started his career with three consecutive starts of allowing one run or less. The seven-plus inning effort was his longest of the season.

The Panthers and Stags series shifts to Claremont, Calif. for the Saturday doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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