Nate Rodriguez, Sports Information Intern
CLAREMONT, CA – The Leopards swept the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens with one-run wins in both games on Saturday, 3-2 then 5-4. The sweep avenges the Leopards' crucial series loss to the Sagehens in the penultimate weekend of 2022.
Game One. A nailbiter to the end, La Verne came out on top of a pitching duel 3-2. 5th Year Gerald Terry added to his SCIAC leading win total (7) with another quality start, striking out seven through six innings and allowing just one run. Sophomore Benny Vogel muscled through a three-inning save, his sixth of the season. The lefty struck out five, including a big strikeout looking for the final out.
In the top of the third inning, La Verne struck first when Sophomore Noah Garcia hustled out a potential double-play ball that scored Sophomore Luke Garcia; both Garcias led the team with a pair of hits each. With the game tied 1-1 in the seventh, freshman shortstop Ryan Vosika provided the Leopards a lead with an RBI single to score Junior Aiden Salcedo. Noah Garcia singled Luke Garcia home in the eighth for the game-winning run.
The game-one win meant La Verne captured the series victory and their tenth conference win (10-1).
Game Two. It took all nine innings for the Leopards to squeeze out yet another comeback victory, their second of the series against the Sagehens. With a three-run ninth inning rally, La Verne picked up SCIAC win number 11 in a 5-4 ballgame.
Facing a one-run deficit in the final frame, center fielder Benny Vogel singled through the right side for a leadoff baserunner. Freshman Nathan Perry followed it up with a swinging bunt base hit, and both runners eventually advanced into scoring position on a passed ball. Luke Garcia hit a ground ball that was fielded cleanly by the infield but the Sagehens' catcher dropped the throw, allowing both runners to score on a costly Pomona-Pitzer error. Luke advanced to third on a Chase Siffert single, then scored on Noah Garcia's sac-fly; Noah had both game-winning RBIs in Saturday's contests.
Vogel closed the second leg of the doubleheader, tight roping out of trouble for his conference-leading seventh save. A quartet of La Verne relievers kept the Leo's in the game: Junior Chase Pederson, Junior Ian Wong, and Sophomore Ethan Galindo all followed Sophomore Austin Klopfenstein's scoreless start to limit the Sagehens lineup.
With an 18-10 overall record, the Leopards will next play on the road when they travel to California Lutheran University. First pitch will be at 3:00 PM Friday, April 14th.
