The University of La Verne dropped a pair of games Saturday to Pomona-Pitzer as the 12th-ranked Sagehens topped the Leopards by scores of 13-9 and 20-8 in SCIAC action at Alumni Stadium in Claremont. 

The Leopards scored 17 runs in the doubleheader but could not contain the Sagehen offense as the home team combined for 33 runs and 44 hits in the two games. 

In the first game, the Sagehens erupted for six runs in the third and eventually grabbed an 8-1 lead before the Leopards plated six in the fifth inning - highlighted by a Kevin Ibarra grand slam home run -  to close the gap to 8-7.  La Verne tied the game in the top of the sixth when Cody Hazel came in to score from third on a wild pitch to knot the contest at 8-8.

Pomona-Pitzer added a run in the bottom of the sixth to go up 9-8, but La Verne answered in the top of the seventh when a Joe Buckley double scored Ibarra to again bring the Leos even at 9-9.

The Sagehens however re-claimed the lead in the bottom of the seventh and added three runs in the eighth to seal the win, 13-9.  Ibarra paced the Leopards offensively going 3-4 with 4 RBI.

A 12-run third inning by Pomona-Pitzer proved to be the difference in the second game as the Hens collected 25 hits in the nightcap to remain unbeaten in conference play.  Pomona-Pitzer (10-4, 9-0 SCIAC), which won the conference a year ago with a 19-2 league mark, has now won 28 of its last 30 SCIAC games.

Pomona-Pitzer first baseman Nick Frederick led the Sagehen attack with a 5-5 game at the plate with 4 RBI.  For La Verne, Hazel went 2-3 while Buckley and Ibarra both went 2-4.

La Verne (6-8, 4-5 SCIAC) resumes conference action this weekend as it visits Occidental on Friday in the first of a three-game set.  The Leopards will host the Tigers in a doubleheader at Ben Hines Field on Saturday.

Game 1:  PP 13, LV 9

Game 2:  PP 20, LV 8