Nate Rodriguez, Sports Information Intern
La Verne, CA – Despite trailing by five runs in two separate instances, the Leopards scored runs in each of their last four offensive half-innings to fend off the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens in a 10-8 win.
La Verne's five-run sixth inning tied the game at 8-8, scoring all five runs in that frame with two outs. With the bases loaded, right fielder Logan Reese singled home a pair with a sharp grounder past the diving third baseman. Left fielder Cam Slessor smoked a ground ball off of an umpire's leg to drive home a run, and third baseman Aiden Salcedo drove home a pair on a single.
The Leos tacked on an additional run in both the seventh and eighth innings. Reese capitalized on a costly bobble by the Sagehens' third baseman to score shortstop Ryan Vosika for the game's winning run. In the eighth, Vosika singled home Slessor with a hard-hit ground ball down the right field line.
Pomona-Pitzer held La Verne scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Leopards finally jumped on Sagehens' starter Jake Hilton for three runs. Leopard catcher Nate Perry started the scoring with a two-RBI single, then Slessor hit a sacrifice fly to bring home first baseman Noah Garcia.
Despite a five-run first inning, Ryan McClernon answered the call for the bullpen with a gutsy five-inning relief appearance. He handed the ball to Ian Wong, who struck out two in a clean inning of work. Left-hander Chase Pedersen slammed the door, collecting the win by shutting out the Sagehens in the eighth and ninth.
With the victory, La Verne remains atop the SCIAC with a 9-1 conference record. The Leopards will finish the weekend series with a doubleheader at Pomona-Pitzer tomorrow, April 8, beginning at 11:00 a.m.