The University of La Verne earned a doubleheader split with Occidental College, taking the first game 9-4 before suffering a 14-3 defeat in the nightcap in SCIAC action Saturday afternoon at Azusa Pacific University.
After topping the Tigers 9-5 on Friday, La Verne (9-4, 5-1 SCIAC) enjoyed a win in the first game, rallying to tie the game after trailing 4-2 after five innings. The Leopards and Tigers were knotted at 4-4 after the sixth inning, but a five-run eighth inning would put the Leos on top to stay.
The Leopards went up 1-0 in the second inning when Michael Stewart led off with a single to right field, and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Albert Ramos. Bryce Roenicke doubled down the left line to score Stewart.
Oxy was able to score a run in the third inning and added two more in the fourth to take a 3-1 advantage. In the bottom of the fourth, the Leos pulled to within a run when Jason Moralez singled and Stewart doubled to put runners on second and third. Ramos grounded out to score the Leopards second run of the game.
The Tigers went on to score another run in the fifth inning to reclaim a two-run cushion, but La Verne scored two runs in the sixth to draw even at 4-4.
In the top of the eighth, Oxy had runners on first and second with no one out, but reliever JC Barcelo ended the rally with a force out followed by inducing an inning-ending double play to keep the contest at a deadlock. La Verne went ahead to stay in the eighth. With the bases loaded, Zach Canfield delivered the go-ahead single to put the Leos up 5-4. Back-to-back walks would score two more runs for a 7-4 Leopard lead. Moralez concluded the scoring with a two-run single up the middle to go up 9-4.
Moralez went 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Stewart had three hits with one RBI, one double and two runs scored. Barcelo recorded the win for the Leopards.
In the second game of the twinbill, The Tigers led 4-2 after the third inning, but went on to score 10 runs in the decisive sixth inning to put the game out of reach. La Verne was able to score one more run in the seventh inning but would fall to Oxy after seven innings of play.
The Leos' first run came in the second inning off back-to-back doubles by Roenicke and Ross Hebert. George Hanna led off the third inning with a double and then scored from an RBI groundout by Cody Hazel.
La Verne's final run came in the seventh when Jared Hovsepian singled through the left side to score George Holland who had reached on a walk.
Hebert led the Leopard offensively going 2-3 at the plate with one double and one RBI. Malott was able to grab the victory for the Tigers pitching 7.0 innings. The loss went to Kevin Knight.
Oxy pounded out 17 hits including seven during the 10-run sixth. Pedro Aldape was the main offensive catalyst for the Tigers going 3-3 with 5 RBI for the game including a solo homer and a pair of two-run singles.
The Leopards continue SCIAC action on Friday as they travel to Redlands for the first game of a three-game series against the Bulldogs. The game will begin at 2:30 pm.
