La Verne began the final leg of conference play with a 1-1 record in a pair of road games, first falling to Redlands followed by a win over Whittier.

The Leopards dropped a 14-6 decision to the Bulldogs on Friday while easily defeating the Poets 20-3 on Saturday.

Redlands scored three runs in each of the third and fourth innings en route to a 7-0 lead on the Leopards.  After La Verne closed to within three runs at 7-4, the Bulldogs erupted for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win and maintain a share of the conference lead.

Mike Surina and Cody Hazel each went 3-4 in the loss while Jon-Michael Hattabaugh went 2-5 with a pair of doubles and a run scored.

The Leos (20-14, 14-9 SCIAC) bounced back to unleash 20 runs on 21 hits on the Poets to improve to earn their 20th win of the season and complete a four-game season sweep of Whittier.

La Verne scored five runs in both the fourth and sixth innings to lead 12-2 heading into the seventh.  The Leopards added two runs in the seventh six runs in the top of the ninth. 

Surina, Hattabaugh, Joe Buckley and Zach Canfield each collected three RBI in the contest.  Buckley belted the game's only homer, a 3-run blast down the left field line, to highlight the sixth inning.  Surina went 4-6 with a triple and a double. 

Mark Larini pitched seven innings to record the win, scattering six hits while collecting four strikeouts.

La Verne returns to Ben Hines Field on Sunday to host SCIAC Co-leader Pomona-Pitzer for a 1 pm start.

Boxscore:  UR 14, LV 6

Boxscore:  LV 20, WC 3