AZUSA PACIFIC
BASEBALL RECAP



COUGAR STREAK COMES TO END AT 10 WITH 5-2 LOSS


AZUSA, CALIF. -- Chapman starting pitcher Jeff Blitstein gave up only 2 runs and tossed his fifth complete-game, putting an end to Azusa Pacific’s 10-game winning streak with a 5-2 victory in a non-conference game Thursday evening in Azusa. He surrendered only 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 2 in securing his 10th victory of the season against only 3 defeats. Gabe Miranda took the loss for Azusa Pacific, falling to 2-2.

It was the Cougars that got the scoring started in the bottom of the 1st inning when leadoff batter Nate Philo doubled and then scored two batters later on Justin Duarte’s RBI groundout, giving Azusa Pacific an early 1-0 lead. However, the Panthers answered in the top of the 2nd inning when they scored 3 runs, two of them unearned after a Matt Lewallen throwing error. Luis Garcia started the inning with his 4th home run of the season, a solo shot, and Adam Olow knocked in the other two with a 2-RBI double, putting the Panthers in front 3-1. Each team tallied single runs in the third and Chapman added one more in the 5th to round out the scoring.

The Cougars had their chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the 8th inning, as they loaded the bases with two outs, but Blitstein got pinch-hitter Mark Gabbard to ground out, ending the threat.

Aaron Rifkin led the Panthers at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and 2 runs scored. Garcia was 2-for-4 with the home run and a stolen base. Philo and designated hitter John Knott each were 1-for-3 with a double for the Cougars.

Chapman upped its mark on the year to 21-10, while Azusa Pacific fell to 29-9. The Cougars close out the regular season Saturday, hosting Point Loma Nazarene in a GSAC doubleheader. With a sweep over the Crusaders and a loss by Biola, Azusa Pacific still would have a shot at the GSAC crown and the automatic bid to the NAIA Far West Regional Playoffs.

--by Eric Montgomery 


LINE SCORE
Chapman		0 3 1	0 1 0	0 0 0		5	7	1
Azusa Pacific	1 0 1	0 0 0	0 0 0		2	7	2

Jeff Blitstein (W, 10-3) and Mike Thornton
Gabe Miranda (L, 2-2), Mike Kleckner (5), Shawn Lange (8), Brian Baker (8) and Justin Duarte

2B -- Ramon Ricabal (AP), Nate Philo (AP), Adam Olow (CU), John Knott (AP)
3B -- none
HR -- Luis Garcia (CU, 2nd inning, bases empty)

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