Aided by a 12-hit attack, the University of La Verne enjoyed a potent offensive display in recording a 6-0 triumph over Linfield in the season opener for both teams Thursday at the Arizona Desert Classic in Anthem, Ariz.
La Verne produced two runs in the third, fifth and eighth innings. Dylan Leong went 4-for-5 at the plate while George Hanna and Cody Hazel each went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI to pace the Leopard attack.
Though the Leopard pitching staff yielded 11 hits to the Wildcats, it held them off the scoreboard as a total of 12 Linfield runners were left on base.
The Leos got on the board in the bottom of the third, when with runners on second and third, Hanna belted a two-run single to score Adrian Franco and Michael Stewart for a 2-0 lead.
In the fifth, Hazel drove in a pair of runs with a two-out single, scoring both Leong and Stewart to grab a 4-0 advantage.
La Verne would tack on two more insurance runs in the eighth, as back-to-back RBI singles from Leong and Stoltenberg scored Jason Moralez and Nolan Henley, respectively.
Christian Grossi earned the win for the Leos after pitching two innings of hitless relief of Kevin Knight, who scattered seven hits in four innings of work.
Linfield's Clayton Truex enjoyed a 4-for-4 day at the plate which included a double.
The Leopards (1-0) continue action at the Arizona Desert Classic as they face Whitman on Friday afternoon.
