ORANGE, Calif. — The University of La Verne Leopards finished with 22 hits and swept the Chapman Panthers Saturday afternoon in their SCIAC road opener.

Season Impact: The Leopards improve to 7-3 overall and 3-1 in SCIAC play. Chapman falls to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the SCIAC.

Game One (9 Innings): La Verne 3, Chapman 2

With Chapman trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Panthers scored a pair of runs to send the game to extra innings. But the Leopards capitalized off a Chapman error in the top of the ninth to take a one run lead.

Rachel Ogata started off the ninth inning with a bunt single and moved into scoring position after a sacrifice bunt by Carly Condon. Michelle Deguzman stepped up next hitting a fly out to right field that allowed Ogata to take third. 

The Leopards caught a break when Shelby Tevis reached on an error by Chapman's third baseman that sent Ogata across the plate for the 3-2 two advantage.

Pitcher Elisa Ponce forced a pair of pop-ups and a fly out in the bottom half of the inning to seal the win. Ponce had a dominant game in the circle, earning her third win of the season in a complete nine innings outing with no earned runs allowed, seven strikeouts, and no walks.

Ogata led La Verne at the plate with three hits, two runs scored and an RBI. She got Leopards on the board in the top of the second, doubling down the left field line to score Justice Borden.

Deguzman put the Leopards up 2-0 in the seventh with a sacrifice bunt that scored Ogata.

Sarah Hartmann took the loss for the Panthers.

Game Two: La Verne 10, Chapman 9

The Leopards closed out the day with an action-filled win in game two of the doubleheader. 

Katheryn Navarro went 3-4 at the plate including her fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning. She finished with three runs scored and two RBI. The sophomore also picked up her third win of the season in the circle, going six and two-thirds innings with six strikeouts.

Angelica DeAngelo had a huge game at the plate, finishing with four RBI with a pair of hits. Justice Borden added three RBI and two hits. 

Trailing 9-5 heading into the sixth inning, the Leopards rallied for a five run inning to take the lead for good.

Rachel Ogata started the inning with a single but made it all the way to third base following an error by the Panthers. Another Chapman error sent Ogata home. 

Navarro then doubled to left field, scoring Shelby Tevis and moving Carly Condon to third. DeAngelo kept the rally going with a single to left to bring in Condon.

After a pitching change, Borden blasted a shot to left center for a two RBI double, scoring Navarro and DeAngelo, putting La Verne ahead. 

Outfielders Condon and Ogata each added a pair of hits with Condon adding an RBI.

Sarah Taketa took the loss for the Panthers. 

Next Game: The Leopards return home next Saturday when they host the Cal Lutheran Regals in a doubleheader beginning at noon.