ORANGE, Calif. — Baseball took home a key 5-2 victory over Pomona-Pitzer to clinch a spot in the SCIAC playoffs.

The Panthers sit at third place in the SCIAC standings with five games remaining in the season.

Chapman led wire-to-wire in this one after just three batters. Brad Shimabuku led off with a single, followed by a Cole Minato sacrifice bunt, then an AJ Anzai RBI single.

A spotless outing from Grant Manning, six shutout innings, saw the score remain the same in the bottom of the sixth. Minato got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then Anzai doubled him home. The very next pitch, Osaka laid down a sac bunt, but an errand throw sent Anzai to the plate.

Those were much needed runs as the Sagehens tacked on two in the top of the seventh, but the Panthers answered with one in the seventh and another in the eighth. Ryan Nopper, drove in one of those runs and went 3-for-3 on the day.

Manning earned his fourth win of the season and with a 1-2-3 ninth, Henry Chabot picked up his seventh save.

Chapman will finish the series up with a doubleheader in Claremont tomorrow at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

By Joe Perrino

Assistant SID / Recreation Sports Manager

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