Photo by Katie Pyne
LA VERNE, Calif. — The University of La Verne baseball team lost a pair of one-run games to Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday at Ben Hines Field.
La Verne falls to 15-6 overall and 8-4 in the SCIAC. Pomona-Pitzer improves to 12-7 and 5-7.
Game 1: Pomona-Pitzer 3, La Verne 2
Bryce Rogan smacked a two-out, two-run triple in the top of the first inning to stake Pomona-Pitzer to a 2-0 lead and the Sagehens held the lead the rest of the way in a 3-2 win.
The Leopards immediately got one back in the bottom of the first and had a chance for more, but settle for just the one. Ben White plated Jakob Thomas with a seeing-eye single through the left side and Christopher Peres loaded the bases with another single with just one out. Daniel McDonnell then got ahead of the count, 3-0, but dribbled into a fielder's choice at home and Nicholas Michaels struck out to end the inning.
The Sagehens tacked on an insurance run in the sixth on a single by Matt Omori which they ended up needing as the Leopards scored in the seventh on another single through the left side by White.
White reached base all four times he came up to the plate, going 2-for-2 and drawing two walks.
Pomona-Pitzer starter Cameron Yen (2-2) allowed 10 baserunners in 6.2 innings but limited the damage to just two runs to pick up the win. Simon Rosenbaum picked up his fourth save of the season with a clean ninth.
Brett Early (2-3) got the start for La Verne and struck out eight, but was charged with all three Sagehen runs and the loss.
Game 2: Pomona-Pitzer 8, La Verne 7 (11 inn.)
The Sagehens came through with two clutch two-out hits in the top of the 11th inning to grab an 8-7 lead and held on for the win.
Cade Hulse kept Pomona-Pitzer's inning alive with an opposite field triple to right field and Matt Omori followed with a looping line drive just past the outreached arms of Ben White to score the go-ahead run.
The Leopards had a decent chance to at least tie the game in the bottom of the 11th. Jakob Thomas singled with one out and White was hit by a pitch to put the winning run on for La Verne. Christopher Peres pushed them ahead with a groundout to third and Christopher Ligot drew a walk to load the bases. But Nolan Henley flied out to right to end the game.
La Verne climbed back from an an early five-run deficit and White sent the game to extra innings with a one-out solo home run to right field.
Javi Iniguez (2-3) took over on the mound in the fifth with La Verne trailing, 7-2, and kept the Leopards afloat with an incredible seven innings of one run ball but was charged with the loss. He struck out five and gave up nine hits.
Rosenbaum (1-0) moved over to the mound after White's homer and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to earn the win.
Up next
The Leopards are back in action next Friday at home against Whittier. First pitch is at 3 p.m.