ORANGE, Calif. – It all came together for the Chapman University baseball team as the Panthers swept visiting Tufts, 7-0 and 6-3, to clinch the three-game series. Standout pitching was backed by solid defense and timely hitting to take both game of the doubleheader.

Game 1 – W, 7-0

A gem from Wyatt Thompson was backed by three home runs from the Chapman lineup as the Panthers evened the series with a 7-0 win. Thompson and Brandon Menzel combined for the shutout on the mound while Brad Shimabuku, Josh Phillips and Kai Osaka all went deep.

Thompson set the tone in the top half of the first as he struck out the side to start the game. After being shutout on Friday night, Shimabuku wasted no time in putting the Panthers on the board when he took the second pitch of the bottom of the first overt the fence in left center for a 1-0 lead.

Chapman went on to load the bases with two outs and score two more on an Austin Dudas single. The 3-0 lead would have been more than enough for Thompson, who had the Jumbos offense off balance through his seven innings of work. He struck out 10 and allowed just one hit – a slow roller that found its way past a diving Davis Mieliwocki.

Thompon faced just 22 batters through his seven innings and did not allow a free pass. The Panthers played flawless defense behind him. Menzel picked up right where Thompson left off, striking out five (for 15 combined strikeouts) and allowing only one single in the final two innings. He also did not issue a walk or hit a batter.

Phillips hit his solo homer in the fourth – a monster blast into left. Osaka hit a three-run homer in the seventh to add even more insurance.

Game 2 – W, 6-3

After a bit of back and forth, the Panthers sealed the sweep with a late rally to take the final game of the series 6-3. Max Banks had a quality start with Turner White and Henry Chabot holding the lead with three combined shutout innings.

Offensively, the Panthers rallied for four runs in the bottom of the sixth after losing the lead in the top half of the inning to back Banks. All four runs came with two outs.

With the tying run on third base and two outs, Cole Minato hit a grounder to short. A quick throw to first ended up in the dirt to extend the inning and allow Phillips to come home as the tying run. After a walk to Trent Turquand loaded the bases, Mieliwocki dropped a bloop single into center to bring two runs home and give Chapman a 5-3 lead. The rally continued with Osaka ripping a single into left to score one more.

Tufts had taken its first lead of the day in the top half of the inning with a walk, stole base and RBI-single to make it 3-2. Banks struck out the next three batters to keep the deficit at one and end his day on the mound.

Banks struck out eight over six innings and walked one. The Jumbos scored three runs on six hits. The bullpen continued to be dominant behind Banks. White allowed just one, two-out double and struck out one in two innings. Chabot picked up his fourth save with a 1-2-3 ninth, including one strikeout. Panther pitcher combined for 25 strikeouts in the two games.

Chapman took an initial lead when Drake Mueller dropped a single down the line into shallow right field. Turquand added to that lead when he finished 0ff back-to-back doubles with Minato in the third.

Ozzie Fleischer tied the game up with one swing in the fifth. Tufts' first real threat of the day put two runners in scoring position and he laced a single back up the middle to score both. Jimmy Evan gave Tufts its momentary lead in the single with another RBI-single.

The Panthers are back home on Friday to take on Redlands at 3 p.m. as they jump back into the SCIAC schedule. Chapman is currently 12-10 overall and 3-3 in the SCIAC.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Information Director

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