No. 1 baseball opens SCIAC with 4-2 win over La Verne

ORANGE, Calif. – Junior Nick Garcia threw 6 dominant innings and the Chapman University baseball staff stayed undefeated with a 4-2 get around La Verne. The No. 1-rated Panthers (8-) are off to their longest year-opening winning streak considering that 1999.

Garcia was dominant by means of 6. He allowed just two hits and walked a single though placing out 5. He retired the fist 11 batters he confronted prior to offering up a double into the remaining field corner in the fourth. A lead off chopper down the 3rd foundation line in the fifth was properly spot for an infield strike but that was all the Leopards’ bats could muster.

The Panthers struck for a few runs in the sixth to supports Garcia’s gem. Just after an infield one and a double from junior Henry Zeisler to start the inning, junior Kyle Joye followed with a sacrifice fly and senior Aaron Wong doubled in an additional run.

Sophomore Brad Shimabuku’s grounder up the center was knocked down as it tried to escape the infield but Wong hustled all around 3rd and scored as the diving infielder gathered the ball. Shimabuku also strike a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to make it a 4- lead.

The Leopards picked up a pair of runs in the seventh and threatened in the eighth but could not force any throughout. Senior Mitchell Briggs arrived in to toss the ninth and struck out two to safe his initial help save of the year.

The sequence moves to La Verne on Saturday for a doubleheader. The Panthers return house on Feb. 29 to host Cal Lutheran in a SCIAC sequence-concluding doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.

By Steven Olveda
Sports Details Director

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