WHITTIER – Chapman exploded for nine runs in the 9th inning and the University of La Verne baseball team lost the first game of the series, 13-4, at the Rio Hondo Community College baseball field on Friday afternoon.
After falling into an early 4-0 hole, La Verne (3-5, 2-2 SCIAC) took advantage of Chapman pitcher Travis McGee's erratic control to claw back into the game in the 7th. Down 4-1, Josh Surdo led off the inning with a walk and Michael Reyes and George Holland were hit by pitches in consecutive at-bats to load the bases for the Leopards. George Hanna then walked, Joe Winterburn was hit with a pitch and Mark Jebbia drove one deep to center field for a sacrifice fly to tie the game.
The game looked poised to go down to the wire as neither team made much noise in the 8th inning, but the Panther bats came alive in the 9th and they could not stop hitting. Chapman (4-4, 3-1 SCIAC) sent 15 batters – 10 after two outs – to the plate in the final frame and amassed nine runs on eight hits and three walks to effectively put the game away.
Kevin Knight got the start and pitched five innings and allowed only one earned run.
Joseph Blair gave the Leopards two scoreless innings in relief of Knight.
George Hanna, making his season debut, went 1 for 3 with an RBI. Reyes had the other La Verne hit and scored two runs.
Chapman starter Kevin Osaki struck out seven in six innings and allowed one run, but did not factor into the decision as McGee got the win.
Chapman's 1-2-3 hitters Andrew Carbajal, Tim Alhanati and Mark Saatzer combined for nine hits and five runs.
La Verne will look to bounce back tomorrow at Chapman as it completes the series with a doubleheader. The first game is at 11 a.m.
