ORANGE, Calif. — Baseball dropped the opening game of its three-game set to MIT 5-4 on Friday, March 8 at Hart Park.

Chapman led 4-1 heading into the ninth, but a four spot in the inning for the Engineers gave them the late lead and victory.

Chapman trailed until the fifth inning when Austin Dudas knocked a three-run blast over the left field wall to take a 3-1 lead. The Panthers added another in the sixth on a Tommy Golbranson single.

Chapman's pitching was stout through the first eight innings, allowing only four hits and eight baserunners. Max Banks started on the bump, allowing one run and striking out four through three innings. Matthew Kuromoto, Hank Tobias and Dylan Holt combined for five scoreless innings of work – Kuromoto in the bulk roll with three innings.

Henry Chabot, looking for his fifth save of the season, earned the loss, allowing four earned runs. 

The Panthers had a shot to tie it in the ninth as Golbranson reached to lead off the inning, but a strike-em-out, throw-em-out double play ended the ballgame.

The two teams will meet up at Hart Park tomorrow for a doubleheader at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.