Chapman, Ranked #11, Shuts Out Bearcats, 6-0 in California

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

ORANGE, CALIF. -- Chapman University, ranked #11 in the NCBWA/D3baseball.com Preseason Top 25, scored five runs on four hits and one error in the second inning and plated one run in the third, as the Panthers defeated Willamette University, 6-0, on Friday, Feb. 25 at Hart Park. Chapman upped its record to 5-4, while Willamette dropped to 3-2.

The Bearcats held the Chapman offense mostly in check with the exception of the second inning. Chapman took advantage of three singles and a double during the stanza, plus an error, two hit batsmen and a walk. The five-run inning was all Chapman starter Travis McGee needed to support his seven innings on the mound.

McGee struck out eight batters and walked two, while moving to 2-2 on the season. He was relieved by Richard Matamoros, who struck out three batters over the final two innings.

The big inning for Chapman began with a single by catcher Adam Kordich. Charlie Piro also singled, placing runners at the corners with no outs. Kordich scored when Max Burnett reached on an error. Tyler Surnbrock followed with a double down the left field line to score Piro and advance Kordich to third.

Mark Saatzer drove in the next two runs with a single up the middle. Saatzer later scored the fifth run when Kordich was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Chapman added its final run in the bottom of the third. Burnett doubled to left field to start the inning. He advanced to third on a fly out by Surnbrock and scored on a single by Saatzer.

In their other six at bats, excluding the second and third innings, the Panthers managed just three hits and walked once. McGee and Matamoros limited Willamette to just three hits during the game -- one single each by Doug Bloom (Sr., SS, Salem, OR/South Salem HS), Mitchell Rowan (Jr., RF/DH, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) and Tommy Kawamura (Fr., 2B, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS).

Willamette's best chance to score occurred in the fourth inning, when Rowan singled to center field with one out.

Rowan moved to second base when the ball was misplayed in center field. He went to third on a fly ball by T.C. Lee (Sr., LF, Lafayette, CA/Acalanes HS). The inning ended when McGee got Sky Kelley (So., DH/RF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) to pop out to shortstop.

Saatzer and Tyler Hadzinsky of Chapman were the only players with more than one hit during the game. Hadzinsky finished 2 for 3, while Saatzer went 2 for 4 with a run and three RBIs.

WU's starting pitcher, Devin Grindy (Sr., RHP, Washougal, WA/Camas HS), fell to 0-2 with the loss. He went five innings and allowed seven hits and six runs (four earned). He had one strikeout and one walk.

Ryan Smith (So., RHP, Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS/Univ. of Redlands) provided the Bearcats with two innings of scoreless relief. He gave up just two hits. Kyle Kirwan (So., RHP/1B, Hillsboro, OR/Glencoe HS) threw one inning for WU. He issued one walk, but allowed no runs and no hits.

Willamette is scheduled to play two games on Saturday, Feb. 26. The Bearcats are slated to take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 10 a.m. (PST), before battling Pomona-Pitzer at 2 p.m. Both games will be played in Claremont, Calif.

The Bearcats are set to close out the four-game trip with a game at Occidental College in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sunday, Feb. 27. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. (PST).