Fast starts provide difference for Chapman in pair of wins

ORANGE, Calif. -  The Chapman University baseball team swept a doubleheader from visiting Menlo College at Hart Park on Saturday. The Panthers jumped out to huge leads, out-scoring the Oaks 21-2 in the first three innings of both games en route to their third and fourth consecutive wins.

Game 1: Chapman 18, Menlo 6
The Panthers scored seven runs in the second inning and six more in the third to build a 14-1 lead after three innings. In the second, the first eight Panthers reached base by hit or walk and junior OF Ryan Hall hit a bases-loaded double, driving in three runs to cap a big inning. In the third it was senior IF Patrick Ohail who had a two-run single, then scored on a three-run homer by senior IF Tristan Phillips, his second of the year. Hall, Ohail and Phillips all drove in four runs apiece.

Chapman set a season-high with 20 hits, including five extra-base hits. Junior OF Ryan Prechtl scored three runs and stole a base for the Panthers.

Senior RHP Wayde Kitchens struck out six batters in five innings to improve to 3-1 this season.

Game 2: Chapman 9, Menlo 3
Again, Chapman (9-4) got out to a quick start, scoring three times in the opening frame and then three more in the third. Ohail and Phillips had back-to-back run-scoring doubles in the first; Phillips' double scored two to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead. In the third it was sophomore C Adam Kordich with an RBI double, followed by sophomore IF Tyler Hadzinsky with an RBI triple to pad Chapman's lead.

Ohail had four hits for the second consecutive game, including three doubles. Chapman had 15 hits for the third straight game and fifth time this season. Sophomore OF John Semel had three hits and three runs scored.

Sophomore RHP Jordan Sigman pitched a complete game for his third victory of the year. Sigman scattered eight hits and allowed just three runs in the win.

The Panthers and Oaks will complete the three-game weekend series on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Hart Park.