Loss Puts Chapman in Tough Spot

Good things can happen to those who make adjustments, and Cal Lutheran made that work in the first round of the NCAA Division III West Regional baseball tournament Thursday in Abilene, Texas.

The Kingsmen racked up 15 hits en route to a 7-1 victory over Chapman, the top-seeded team in the tournament.

The victory sends fourth-seeded Cal Lutheran into a 9 a.m. (PDT) game today against Southwestern. Chapman, which needs to win four games to advance, plays tournament host McMurry at 1 p.m. today.

The victory ended a five-game losing streak for the Kingsmen (25-12). They led, 2-0, through five innings, then scored five runs in the sixth on seven hits.

Adam Springston (7-2) pitched a six-hitter to earn the victory.

Chapman’s starting pitcher, Jeff Blitstein (12-4), who had beaten the Kingsmen, 3-1, April 28, was replaced in the seventh and took the loss.

The Kingsmen adjusted to Blitstein’s usually effective sinker by moving up in the batter’s box.

“I think if we had stayed with the same game plan, we would have lost again,” Cal Lutheran Coach Marty Slimak said. “[I knew] we’d better do something to change.”

The Kingsmen were retired in order only in the ninth, and nine of their 15 hits came with two outs.

“I feel like we’re seeing the ball real well right now,” said Cal Lutheran first baseman Clinton Britt, who had a two-run double in the sixth and went two for five to snap out of a two-for-21 slump. “It felt really good because this guy [Blitstein] really dealt on us last time.”

Chapman Coach Rex Peters, whose team is 29-12, said, “We were real fortunate to get two wins against them during the season. They’re a good ballclub, and they can swing the bats with the best of them.”

Cal Lutheran went on top, 1-0, in the second on an RBI single by Jeremy Schlosser. Adam Rauch hit a run-scoring single in the third to make it 2-0.

The six-run sixth was highlighted by consecutive two-out hits by Britt, Anthony Olden, Brian Malchow, Donny Churchman and Rauch.

Malchow was three for three with one run batted in.

The Panthers scored in the seventh on an RBI double by Esteban Enriquez. That drove in Jason Moeller, who had reached on a fielder’s choice.

Rob O’Brien went two for four for the Panthers.

“Our backs are against the wall now, and I feel we’ve always played our best when our backs are against the wall,” Peters said. “We’ll find out what our guys are made of [today].”