by Monica Silva

The University of La Verne baseball team traveled to the city of Orange to take on the Chapman Panthers today. After a loss to the Panthers on Friday, the Leopards looked to turn their luck and maintain their top seed in the Conference standings. 

Game 1. The Leopards got rolling in the second bringing in three runs for the inning. La Verne stayed consistent and kept their bats hot, bringing in a run in the fourth and fifth inning. The Panthers struggled, bringing in three runs late in the game, and were answered by the Leopards scoring five more runs of their own.

Nathan Perry led the Leopards with two RBIs, and four other Leopards brought runners home in the batting lineup including Anthony Salcedo, Benny Vogel, Noah Garcia, and Manuel Munoz. La Verne only brought out two pitchers from their bullpen with Gerald Terry pitching eight solid innings - and allowing only two runners across home plate. Benny Vogel closed out the game for a final score of 10-3.

Game 2. La Verne once again started the game strong, bringing in three runs in the second inning and one in the fourth. Cameron Slessor, Logan Reese, and Nathan Perry each contributed a run batted in for the Leopards. Austin Klopfenstein led the Leopards on the mound, earning the win. The Panthers struggled against La Verne's bullpen, and only managed to bring in one run late for their only game score. The Leopards took the second game of the day 4-1.

La Verne flipped the switch on Saturday, winning the series 2-1, and extended their spot on the leaderboard in Conference.

The Leopards next take on Whittier College Saturday, April 29th, for a doubleheader at Ben Hines Field at 11 AM and 2:30 PM.

(photo by Joseph Ceniceros)