Cal Lutheran Rallies to Beat Chapman

MOORPARK — Chapman won the first two games in a best-of-five NCAA Division III West baseball regional and led by eight runs in the seventh inning of the third game.

But Cal Lutheran scored seven runs in the seventh and two in the bottom of the ninth to win the second game of a doubleheader, 10-9, Friday at Moorpark College.

A bases-loaded double by Anthony Olden off reliever Cale Shepherd drove in Tom McGee and pinch-runner Adam Rauch with the tying and winning runs.

Olden, a junior first baseman-designated hitter, hit a two-run homer in the seventh and had three hits in the first game, which Cal Lutheran lost, 14-7.

Chapman (30-13) will play the Kingsmen (34-9) again at noon today and a Cal Lutheran victory would force a second game.

“We’re still in the driver’s seat. Our pitching is set up pretty good,” Chapman Coach Rex Peters said.

Chapman has Justin Miner (6-3) fresh for today’s first game. But the Panthers felt they also had the upper hand Friday. Right-hander Josh LaRocca struck out eight and gave up one hit through six innings, but he tired quickly in the seventh.

Mike Young and Scott Foli opened the inning with singles, Rich Hernandez walked and Young scored on a wild pitch. Joseph Jauregui walked, but the rally seemed to end when McGee hit a sacrifice fly and David Cruz hit into a force play for the second out.

Eric Buben hit a two-run single, however, and Olden and Donny Churchman hit back-to-back home runs to pull Cal Lutheran to within 9-8.

“This whole series we never had any breaks,” Cal Lutheran Coach Marty Slimak said. “We never put a string of hits together. Finally we did it.”

Scott Poletto (3-1), who relieved Marco Marquez after Chapman scored eight unearned runs in the sixth, struck out seven and gave up one hit over the last 3 1/3 innings.