WHITTIER, Calif. – Despite taking an early 2-1 lead after the first inning, the University of La Verne baseball team couldn't engineer much the rest of the game and lost, 7-3, in the first of a three-game series against the Pacific (Ore.) on Sunday at Rio Hondo College field.

After spotting a run in the top of the 1^st, the Leopards responded immediately with a pair of two-out RBI hits. George Hanna and Mark Jebbia both drew walks to lead off the bottom of the 1^st. Joe Winterburn then sacrificed the runners over with a bunt, and Pedro Espinoza singled to right and Nolan Henley singled through the right side to give the Leopards a 2-1 lead.

But Pacific's lefty starter Tyler Kotchik settled down and the rest of the Boxer staff limited the Leopards to just one more run on three hits the rest of the game.

Pacific took back the lead in the 3^rd. Nathan Suyematsu singled through the left side and Donnie Bradley doubled him home to level the score at 2-2. Kyle Treadway walked one batter later and Bradley came around to score on a throwing error. Justin Strayer then singled to center to plate Treadway, which turned out to be the game-winning run.

Walker Olis singled and Nick Garrett doubled to add another run for Pacific in the 5^th. The Boxers added two more in the 6^th. After Colin McCusker walked and Ben Duerr singled up the middle, Suyematsu singled to bring home McCusker, and Olis drove one in on a sacrifice fly to center.

The Leopards got one back in the 6^th when Winterburn drew a leadoff walk and scored on a double by Ben White.

La Verne bullpen was solid in relief and kept the Leopards in the game. Zach Quinones, Donald Hernandez, Corey Werneth and Brett Early combined for 3.2 scoreless innings while giving up just one hit.

Tyler Kotchik earned the win for the Boxers, going six innings while giving up three runs.

La Verne drops to 8-12 on the season. Pacific improves to 7-9.

The Leopards will complete their three-game set with a doubleheader on Monday. The first game starts at 9 a.m.