AZUSA, Calif. -- Chapman starting pitcher Jeff Blitstein gave up only 2 runs and tossed his fifth complete-game of the season, 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. Blitstein surrendered only 7 hits and yielded 3 walks while striking out 2 in securing his 10th victory of the season against only 3 defeats.
Gabe Miranda took a loss for Azusa Pacific, falling to 2-2.
It was the Cougars who got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning when leadoff batter
Nate Philo doubled and then scored two batters later on
Justin Duarte's RBI ground out. However, the Panthers answered in top of the second inning when they scored 3 runs, 2 of them unearned after a
Matt Lewallen throwing error. Luis Garcia started inning with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot, and Adam Olow knocked in another 2 with the RBI double, putting the Panthers in front 3–1. Each team tallied single runs in the third inning, and Chapman added another in the fifth to round out the scoring.
The Cougars had a chance to get back in the game in the bottom of the eighth, as they loaded the bases with two outs, but Blitstein got pinch hitter
Mark Gabbard to ground out to end the threat.
Aaron Rifkin led the Panthers by going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. Garcia was 2-for-4 with a home run and a stolen base. Philo and designated hitter
John Knott each were 1-for-3 with a double for Azusa Pacific.
Chapman upped its mark on the year to 21–10, while Azusa Pacific falls to 29-9