Tigers tamed as Chapman sweeps another series

ORANGE, Calif. – Another series and another sweep for Chapman University baseball as the team closed its weekend series against Occidental College with a 5-2 victory at Hart Park on Sunday afternoon. This was Chapman’s sixth consecutive victory, matching its season-high.

The Panthers had two home runs in the game, powered by senior 1B Matt Luzar (8) and senior C Joe Lehman (2). This was both Luzar and Lehman’s second home runs of the series, and Lehman’s second in as many days.

Tied at 2-2, Lehman’s home run in the bottom of the sixth proved to be the game-winner as his leadoff blast pushed Chapman ahead for good 3-2.

Freshman RHP Travis McGee improved to 4-1 and lowered his team-leading 1.76 ERA, allowing just two runs and six hits in seven innings pitched. The rookie also struck out five Tigers. Sophomore LHP Ben Levitt pitched two perfect innings for his first save of the season.

Luzar’s solo home run put the Panthers on the board early in the second. Luzar is 10-for-23, with a .435 average and has hit four of his last home runs during the Panthers’ six-game winning streak.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the third when senior RF Ryan Prechtl stole third base and then scored on a Tigers’ overthrow, giving the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Chapman stole five bases total during the game, three of which came from sophomore OF Eric Robbins.

Occidental (7-15) rallied in the fifth inning with a pair of hits by sophomore OF Jacob Lee and sophomore 3B Stephen Hilliard singled into the outfield. Hilliard’s hit drove in two, putting the Tigers on the board for the first time this game.

Lehman, who went 2-for-3, began an early eighth-inning rally with an infield single. Senior RF Ryan Hall two-out, bases loaded double added a pair of insurance runs.

by Nicole Inal
Sports Information Intern

Boxscores: http://www.chapmanathletics.com/sports/bsb/2009-10/stats/oxy-cu2.htm