Nate Rodriguez, Sports Information Intern

La Verne, CA – Head Coach Scott Winterburn earned his 500th career victory at the collegiate level on Saturday when his Leopards' squad defended their home turf by sweeping the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Stags.

In both games, the bats came alive in the bottom of the eighth inning to propel La Verne to back-to-back comeback wins. The Leopards finished off the Stags 8-5 in game one, Coach Winterburn's big win, behind southpaw Benny Vogel's start and five innings of combined relief from Vicente Molina and Alfredo Frey. The duo piggybacked Jerry Terry's gem in game two to help shut the door and bring out the brooms. CMS called to the bullpen after seven strong innings from their starter in game one. The Leopards answered with greetings. Brandon Shiota extended his team lead with his season's 25th RBI on a base hit up the middle to tie the game 3-3. Pinch hitter Malachi Francois drove in the eventual game-winning run on a ground ball to the right side, and catcher Jacob Gutierrez laced an opposite-field triple that skipped into the right-field corner to score two more. The Leopards tallied eight at the end of eight innings and held on for the victory. Francois proved to be the hero twice on Saturday, stepping to the plate in another pinch-hit opportunity with the tying and go-ahead runs aboard in the eighth inning of game two, trailing by one. He split the left-center gap with a line-drive double to give the Leopards a 4-3 lead. Frey was trusted to close it out again, earning the save after concluding the ninth.

The Leopards bounce back after a tough loss to nationally ranked interconference rival CLU to sweep the CMS Stags over three games, both of which came down to the wire. La Verne collected Coach Winterburn's 500th collegiate coaching victory and improved their undefeated SCIAC record to 6-0. The Leos next square off against Carleton University at home on Wednesday, March 23 at Ben Hines Field.