Chapman Continues Its Roll

By following its well-worn but effective script again Saturday, Chapman moved a win away from its second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Division III World Series.

The opportunistic Panthers took advantage of five errors by Willamette and got two good pitching performances in an 11-3 West Regional victory at Hart Park in Orange.

It was the third consecutive win in the double-elimination tournament for Chapman (36-8), which has won seven in a row and 21 of its last 23. The Panthers can wrap up the West title today with a victory over Cal State Hayward, which battled through the losers’ bracket Saturday.

Chapman, making its fifth consecutive regional appearance, has to lose twice today to be eliminated. If a second game is needed, it will be played 30 minutes after the 1 p.m. opener.

Chapman players were giving little thought to anything but a sweep after they banged out 11 hits, drew nine walks against losing pitcher Zach Allen and got their largest margin of victory in the tournament.

“We’re in the driver’s seat,” said right fielder Jude Chavez, who drove in three runs. “The other team’s pitching is going to be worn down after today and we are going to get a lot of rest.”

After a rocky start that wasn’t entirely his fault, Chapman left-hander Gary Van Matre (9-2) earned the victory. He induced nine fly-ball outs and wasn’t overpowering. But he was effective, giving up four hits, walking three and striking out one in 5 1/3 innings.

He made only one big mistake, giving up a two-run, two-out single to designated hitter Nik Lubisich in the bottom of the first inning after a Chapman error had extended the inning. That hit gave Willamette a 2-0 lead.

Chapman (36-8) bounced back by taking advantage of Willamette’s shaky third inning, which included an error, a hit batter, a wild pitch and a balk. Allen’s balk was most costly; it nullified a pitch on which Andy Karp hit a fly ball to center field for what would have been the third out. Given a second chance, Karp got another break; his line drive bounced off third baseman Chris George’s glove for an error and Alex Taylor scored from second.

Chavez walked and Mike Caira hit a three-run home run to give Chapman a 4-2 lead.

Three more Willamette errors in the fourth inning helped Chapman increase its lead to 7-2. Karp’s home run in the sixth added a run.

Relief pitcher Garrett Shourds worked the final 3 1/3 innings, struck out four and did not give up a run.