Though it had to wait an extra day, the University of La Verne earned a three-game sweep over Whittier College by topping the Poets in a doubleheader by scores of 9-4 and 7-2 in SCIAC action Sunday at Ben Hines Field.

The two teams resumed action after Saturday's washout, and the Poets struck early in the first game with three runs in the top of the first inning to claim a 3-0 advantage.  Whittier padded its lead to 4-0 after getting a run on two hits in the third.

La Verne mounted its comeback in the sixth, erupting for five runs highlighted by a 3-run homer from Kent Longnecker to knot the game at 4-4.  Sergio Munoz added an RBI single to put the Leopards on top to stay at 5-4.

The Leos added two runs in the seventh as Victor Peinado blasted a 2-run homer to take a 7-4 lead.  In the eighth, Jason Munoz would hit a 2-run homer to provide the final margin of victory.

Peinado and Longnecker finished with 3 RBI while Albert Ramos went 2-4 with a run scored.  Leopard starter Tim Jolly settled in after the first inning to earn the win, yielding 6 hits in seven innings of work while striking out 9 batters.

The Leopards once again had to come from behind in Game 2 as the Poets plated a pair of runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 advantage. 

La Verne (6-5, 4-2 SCIAC) responded with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the first, as Albert Ramos reached on a throwing error which scored Jon-Michael Hattabaugh.  Peinado followed with an RBI single to tie the contest at 2-2. 

The Leopards got their next two runs by way of the home run as Mike Surina led off the bottom of the third with a solo blast.  One out later, Peinado belted his second homer of the day, a solo shot estimated at 430 feet to put the Leopards up 4-2.

In the fourth, the Leopards tacked on three more runs, first on a Surina RBI single followed by a 2-run double by Ramos with two out to go up 7-2.

Pitcher Dane Delfs got the win after six solid innings, allowing four hits.  Mark Larini and David Contreras pitched the final three innings, holding the Poets scoreless to complete the sweep.  Whittier fell to 1-12 overall and 0-6 in conference play.

The Leopards continue SCIAC action next weekend as it opens a three-game set with defending conference champion Pomona-Pitzer Friday at Ben Hines Field.  First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 pm.