Nate Rodriguez, Sports Information Intern
La Verne, CA – Down by one run in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Leopards found life against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in game one of the 2022 SCIAC postseason tournament.
The University of La Verne climbed an uphill battle from the fifth inning on, losing 3-2 after the Sagehens erased short-lasting deficits early in the ballgame. With one out in the eight, John Bike worked a full count before lining a double into the right-center gap. Hitting sixth in the batting order Friday, first-year left fielder Logan Reese had not collected a hit against the Sagehens in eleven at-bats this season. With pinch-runner Luke Garcia aboard second, Reese pieced a slicing line drive over the head of Pomona-Pitzer's center fielder David Bedrosian for a stand-up RBI triple. The game was tied 3-3, and Reese represented the go-ahead run just 90 feet away. Along came Sagehens' senior closer Joe Williams, who had his way against the Leopards' lineup earlier this season. In a 5-4 12-inning win over the Leopards on April 23, Williams entered in the ninth inning to pitch four hitless innings and strike out six en route to the winning decision. Friday the 13th brought bad luck for Williams. After striking out the first batter he faced, the relief pitcher handcuffed his catcher with a pitch that scooted to the backstop. Reese crossed home as the Leos' fourth and final run, ultimately handing Williams the loss despite striking out both batters he faced.
Head coach Scott Winterburn mixed up the starting rotation for the playoff weekend. He gave Friday's starting nod to first-year southpaw Bennett Vogel, who finished the 2022 regular season fifth amongst the SCIAC's ERA leaders at 3.05. Vogel lifted La Verne through five innings, allowing three earned runs and limiting the lefty-laden Sagehens' damage. Left-handed specialist Jaylon Fong recorded two outs in the sixth before Gerald Terry left a runner stranded to end the inning. A 2022 First Team All-SCIAC selection, Terry pitched two scoreless relief innings on just 36 pitches, in case he will be called upon in Saturday or Sunday's action. In Fredo, the Leos trusted to close out Friday afternoon's nailbiter. Another ULV First-Team All-SCIAC selection, closing pitcher Alfredo Frey collected a four-out save with three strikeouts to slam the door.
The Leopards advance into Saturday's action 1-0 in the SCIAC tournament and will duel against the California Lutheran University Kingsmen at Hart Park in Orange County, California at 2:00 PM. The Kingsmen upset #1 Chapman Panthers with four answered runs late in the game to win 4-3 on Friday. The Leopards look to hand the ball to senior right-hander Sean Holt in hopes of their second consecutive postseason win.
