Chapman Wins Opener

The expected pitching duel fizzled and neither team played very well, but Chapman survived several jams to beat McMurry of Abilene, Texas, 7-5 on Thursday in the opening round of the NCAA Division III West Regional baseball tournament at Hart Park.

Little-used reliever Josh Dickey, Chapman’s third pitcher, picked up his first save of the season, getting the final two outs with two runners on in the top of the ninth inning. Chapman (35-8) continues the double-elimination tournament today at 3 p.m. against Cal Lutheran, which lost to Cal State Hayward, 8-7, Thursday night.

“We were not sharp today and we need to be sharper if we are going to do anything in this tournament,” Chapman Coach Rex Peters said.

Chapman right-hander Andrew Tisdale ran his season record to 11-0, but struggled with his control. He lasted 5 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on four hits, walked two, delivered a wild pitch and hit a batter.

Eric Hayden relieved Tisdale with one out in the sixth and got out of the inning without allowing a run, but struggled after that until Dickey took over in the ninth. Hayden gave up three runs and four hits in three innings, with three walks and a wild pitch that allowed McMurry (26-16) to score the first of two ninth-inning runs.

McMurry starter Josh Duwe, who came in with a 2.51 earned-run average in 75 innings, was not on his game either. Pitching for the first time since April 26, he gave up seven runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.

His biggest mistake was a fastball that designated hitter Jason Miller hit over the left-field fence for a three-run home run that gave Chapman a 4-0 lead in the fourth.

McMurry rallied for two runs in the fifth, but Chapman took a 7-2 lead in its half of that inning on a two-run, bases-loaded single by left fielder Mike Caira and an RBI single by Brian Sanders.

Dickey inherited a two-ball count when he replaced Hayden with one out in the ninth, and Sam Ingram promptly blooped a single over the head of Chapman third baseman Brian Menkin to drive in the Indians’ final run. But Dickey, who had pitched just six innings this season, got out of the inning on a fielder’s choice and an infield pop-up.