Chapman Gets 5 in Ninth, Then Hangs On

After building a five-run lead in the ninth inning, Chapman held off Pacific Lutheran (Wash.), 8-7, to win Saturday’s NCAA Division III West Regional Tournament game at Hart Park.

Chapman advances to the championship game at noon today against St. Thomas (Minn.).

In the top of the ninth, sophomore Dawn Lopez cleared the bases with a three-run single and freshman Molly Beckett followed with a two-run home run, giving the Panthers (30-8) their five-run advantage.

But it was short-lived. Sophomore pitcher Linsey Buendia (13-3) gave up two walks in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases for the Lutes (39-5) with one out.

Chapman Coach Janet Lloyd brought in freshman right-hander Christy Ledford, who gave up a two-run double to Irene Bryant, cutting the lead to three.

“Christy is a knuckleball pitcher,” Lloyd said. “We thought we could catch them off guard.”

Lloyd quickly realized the Lutes were ready for Ledford. She then brought in closer Katie Smithson to finish the job.

But a wild pitch by Smithson enabled Mandy Flores to score from third. Carli Rasmussen added a two-out RBI single to cut the lead to one before Salena Goudreault grounded out to end the threat.

“It was little things that let them back in,” Lloyd said. “I had confidence in my players that we could come back.”

Chapman jumped out to a two-run lead in the top of the third on a single by Lopez. Lopez went two for four with four RBIs.

Flores hit a three-run home run in the fifth, giving the Lutes a 3-2 lead.

Panther sophomore Leslie Prochaska had an RBI single in the top of the seventh to tie the score.

In the Big West Conference:

Pacific 7, Cal State Fullerton 5 (12)--Visiting Pacific (37-20) scored four times in the 12th inning and withstood a two-run rally by Cal State Fullerton (34-27), to win. Kelly Lowry hit a home run and drove in three runs, and Cindy Ball and Natalie Farmer each drove in two runs for the Tigers. Yasmin Mossadeghi hit a home run for the Titans.