ORANGE, Calif.— The Chapman University baseball team dominated Friday against Pacific Lutheran, sweeping the doubleheader 9-6 and 9-3. Senior outfielder Tate Zimmerman led the way with four hits, three runs and two RBI, one double and a home run in the first game. Third baseman Blake Jacobs led the way in the second game clocking one run, three hits and two RBI. Those two players were just a sample of the offensive dominance the Panthers showed. 

Game One (W, 9-6)

Chapman ended up falling behind early in the fifth inning 4-1, as Pacific Lutheran's Braeden Lundberg hit a home run grand slam to go ahead 4-1. Then, the Panther bats came to life. In the sixth inning, first baseman Andrew Powers grounded out to second base. Zimmerman was on third and sprinted home. Then, second baseman Ryan Nopper bombed a single to left field which brought Nate Jensen home. After another run came home, the Panthers found themselves tied.

In the seventh, Zimmerman hit a home run bomb into left field. With momentum and the lead on their side, Chapman got walked five times between the sixth and eighth innings. Chapman also put the ball in play on three different singles. The Panthers went on to score another five runs in the game's final four innings. 

On the defensive side, pitcher Nick Molina got the start, earning two strikeouts in seven innings pitched. Joshua Cantwell-Nahrung then checked in as the relief pitcher, and earned the victory in one inning pitched with one strikeout. 

Game Two (W, 9-3)

Chapman ended up dominating in the second game of the day, and ran away with the victory 9-3. Nopper had himself a game, scoring two runs in three at-bats while also getting walked once. Molina, who switched to first base in game two, poured on three hits, a run and an RBI. Freshman lead-off batter Keegan Goodard recorded two runs of his own and a hit. Overall, bats clicked on all cylinders, as the Panthers went on to have 13 hits and eight RBI. 

Defensively, left fielder Brady Altman caught two fly balls, where he flew into the back gate in the outfield, and stalled Pacific Lutheran in their path on base. During the first play, Altman reached up and slammed directly into the back wall so loudly, fans could hear it from across the ball park. He leaped up and stole the ball out of the sky, stopping multiple runs from coming home. During the second play, Altman again chased down the ball which was flying towards the back left corner and leaped up towards the back of the field to grab it before the Pacific Lutheran runners could even think about advancing. 

On the mound, sophomore pitcher Finean Hunter-Kenney checked in as the reliever in the sixth inning. He struck out seven batters, recorded just two hits and one run. His dominant perfomance sealed the game. 

Chapman now improves to 16-13 overall, 8-7 in the SCIAC. They will return home on Saturday to play against Pacific Lutheran in another double header beginning at 11 AM.