COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Chapman Continues Its Upsetting Ways in Baseball

Chapman’s baseball team, continuing to make its case for a national ranking, defeated Cal State Fullerton, 6-4, Tuesday in a nonconference game at Amerige Park in Fullerton.

In their first season as an NCAA Division I team, the Panthers have beaten three nationally ranked teams (Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Northridge and Fullerton) and Fresno State, which reached the 1991 College World Series.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for Chapman (9-4). Fullerton (7-4) is ranked No. 7 in the latest Collegiate Baseball/ESPN poll.

Kevin Cook hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning to give the Panthers a 6-1 lead, but Fullerton chipped away against Chapman ace Pete Coleman (2-1).

Jason Moler hit home runs in the sixth and eighth innings and the Titans scored another run on a wild pitch by Steven Aviles, who replaced Coleman.

Richard Smith then replaced Aviles, who wasn’t able to get an out, and retired the next two batters to end the inning. Smith hit Steve Sisco with a pitch to lead off the ninth, but he retired the next three, including Moler when Cook made a sliding catch in right field to end the game.

In the NAIA District 3 women’s basketball championship:

Christ College Irvine 85, Fresno Pacific 64--Host Christ College Irvine won its first district championship and advanced to the national championship tournament in Jackson, Tenn., March 4-10.

CCI played good defense and capitalized on 14 Fresno Pacific turnovers to take an 11-point lead, 32-21, with 5:03 left in the first half.

“We stressed defense,” CCI Coach Kent Schlichtemeier said. “We knew the only way we would go to the NAIA Division I national championships is to focus on playing 40 minutes of intense defense and to pull together as a family.”

Fresno Pacific (24-5) is expected to earn an at-large berth to the national because of its ranking (16th) in the final poll released Monday.

Sophomore center Gitte Mejer hit eight of 10 field goals, eight of 10 free throws and had nine rebounds for CCI (25-4).

Nancy Geisler added 22 points, Genevieve Graff eight rebounds and Stacy Kirch 12 points and six assists.