By: Ryan Lackey

ORANGE, Calif. --- The Bruins scored two runs on Saturday afternoon without recording an RBI, but hosts Chapman University jumped all over starter Ian Buckles and rode a five-run fifth inning to an 8-2 victory. Though the loss is a disappointing one for the Bruins, the day saw encouraging play from Brandon Wileman, who went 2-2, and Zach Rapacz, who finished 1-3.

Game 1

Though the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Tyler Cook RBI single, the Bruins led going into the fifth inning: Clay Mott's double-play grounder let Andrew Reichenbach score in the first, and AJ Valencia's fifth-inning fielder's choice let in Mason Dunning.

Chapman, though, sprung loose in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Dunning booted Gavin Blodgett's grounder surrendered one run, and a airmailed pickoff throw brought in another. Two batters later, Forrest Wiederman's long home run made the score 6-2.

Chapman added two more insurance runs in the eighth on a pair of RBI singles from John Wiehe and Conner Larkin, but they proved unnecessary: the Bruins stranded two runners in the ninth, and the 8-2 final held.

The loss drops the Bruins to 10-13 with another game against Chapman scheduled on the day.

Game 2

Just like game one, the Bruins allowed eight runs to Chapman University in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader. This time, the Bruins brought offense, too, but their furious comeback fell just short, and Chapman took the game with an 8-6 final score.

AJ Valencia was key atop the Bruins' lineup, going 1-2 with two runs scored and working a pair of walks; he was on base and dangerous all game. Right fielder Zach Rapacz lined two hits and recorded an RBI, and Blake Christopher did a little of everything, going 1-3 with a run and an RBI.

Early on, the game appeared like another breezy Chapman victory. The Bruins did score in the first – Jake Thran's clean single to right brought in Valencia – but Chapman jumped on starter Sean Eberhardt, stringing together three hits in the first to establish an early 3-1 lead.

The Panthers added another in the third, as Aaron Vilaubi snuck a double down the left field line and Gavin Blodgett knocked him in with a single.

Things got worse for the Bruins before they improved. Jared Love led off the Chapman sixth with a solo homer, and Joey Bernal's screaming double plated two more to give Chapman a 7-1 lead.

The seventh, though, witnessed the Bruins finally break out. Riley McKean opened the inning with a single, and after Tyler Hamilton worked a walk Blake Christopher's infield single allowed McKean to race around and score. Valencia waited out a walk to load the bases, and, with two outs, Brandon Wileman showed excellent discipline, earning another walk and forcing in Hamilton. A wild pickoff throw from Chapman hurler Matt Molnar scored Christopher, and Rapacz's single made the score 7-6.

Chapman widened the score with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh, but George Fox nearly tied the game in the ninth. With runners on first and second and one out, Chapman's Sam Gershow fanned Wileman and Rapacz to close out the game, 8-6.

The loss means the Bruins stand at 10-14. After dropping three in a row to Chapman, they have a chance to earn one back tomorrow at noon, when they close out the four-game set.