LA VERNE, Calif. — No. 24/11 Occidental rode a solid performance from starter Scott Ericksen to beat the University of La Verne baseball team, 8-2, on Friday at Ben Hines Field.

La Verne falls to 16-11 overall and 9-7 in the SCIAC. Oxy improves to 21-5 and 16-3.

The Leopards just could not crack Ericksen as they settled for a season-low four hits. Jeryd Reuss, Anthony Gonzalez, Nolan Henley and Andrew Douglas each had a base knock.

The Tigers scratched together six hits for four runs in the top of the third inning to stake Ericksen to a 4-0 lead and never looked back. The Leopards got one back in the bottom of the fourth on a bases-loaded wild pitch, but Oxy struck for three more runs in the top of the fourth to stretch the lead to 7-1.

Ericksen (6-0) pitched eight innings while striking out seven and giving up two earned runs.

Brett Early came on in relief in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and no outs and finished the game. He went five innings while giving up one run on two hits and fanned five.

Reid Gibbs, Devon DeRaad and Bryan Smith each had two hits for the Tigers.

The Leopards travel to Occidental tomorrow for a doubleheader. First game starts at 11 a.m.