ORANGE, Calif. — Chapman baseball fired off seven first-inning runs to outlast Claremont-M-S 11-9 on Friday, March 22.

After a pair of Stag RBI doubles in the top of the first, Chapman found itself in a 2-0 hole before taking a swing. Well, it didn't matter as the Panthers would tally six hits and eight base runners in the inning, notching a seven-spot on the board.

AJ Anzai had a hit to lead off the inning and one to tack on the final run of the frame as the Panthers hit around. Tommy Golbranson had the big knock, a double to deep center field to score a pair of Panthers.

With a 7-2 lead, Chapman looked to put up a zero in the second, but a two-out error and a single to follow put the Stags back within three. The Panthers answered in the bottom half, however, as Josh Phillips scored on a wild pitch, and Brad Lang crossed home on an errand pick-off attempt to first base. 

The Panthers added another run in the third to take their biggest lead, 10-4. CMS scored five unanswered from that point forward, as Chapman's starting pitcher Colin Godfrey – who earned the win after tossing six innings, allowing six earned – let up a three-run blast to the last batter he faced in the seventh. Upon his departure, Matthew Kuromoto shut the door; a nine-out save gave the freshman the first of his career.

Kuromoto went six-up, six-down through the seventh and eighth, but CMS loaded the bases in the ninth inning after a dropped third strike. He got the elusive third out on a bouncer to third, and Golbranson went the short way by stepping on the bag to end the ballgame.

The Panthers – who are now winners of three straight – look to win the series with at least one victory in tomorrow's doubleheader, slated for 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at Pomona-Pitzer's Alumni Field in Claremont.