ORANGE, Calif. – Falling behind early, the Linfield Wildcats couldn't bounce back as the Chapman Panthers defended Hart Park 7-3 Friday night under the lights. The Panthers scored the first four runs and didn't look back.
Linfield is 13-11 for the season. Chapman advances to 15-7.
How it played out
The Panthers drew the first four runs of the game, two coming in the first frame when Jared Love homered to left field and brought in Tristian Kevitch.
Chapman padded its lead with a run in both the second and third innings.
The 'Cats got on the board in the fourth when
Ryan Ross homered over the wall in left to make it 4-1 in Chapman's favor.
The Panthers answered with another run in the bottom of the fourth when Conner Larkin sent a solo home run over the right-field wall. Chapman added two more runs in the seventh to extend its lead to 7-1.
Linfield threatened in the ninth with two runs on a Ross double to left that brought in Ryan Potter and
Cameron Fox.
Linfield in the box
Linfield totaled eight hits. Two Wildcats had multiple hits. Ross had all three Linfield RBI. He went 3 for 4 with a run scored.
Jake Gellos went 2 for 4 with a pair of singles.
Wildcat arms
Starter
Cason Cunningham (5-3) made his eighth start of the season. He struck out four batters over the first four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits.
Taylor Boos entered in the fifth, throwing two innings of four-hit ball. Boos gave up two runs and struck out three.
Kameron Walker pitched the final two innings, yielding one hit.
Chapman at the plate
Chapman outhit Linfield 12-8. Tristan Kevitch led the Panthers with three hits (3 for 5). Jared Love went 2 for 5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Four Panthers had multiple hits in the game. Conner Larkin went 1 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Panthers on the mound
Matt Mogollon (4-2) earned the win. He nearly went the distance, throwing eight innings of eight-hit ball. Mogollon surrendered three runs and struck out 11 Wildcats. Austin Merrill threw the final inning fanning three batters without conceding a hit.
Next
Linfield continues its spring break trek through Southern California Saturday with a doubleheader at La Verne starting at 11 a.m. The two teams then play a single game Sunday starting at noon.
