LA VERNE – The University of La Verne baseball team rode a dominant pitching performance from Mark Jebbia in Game 2 to salvage a win in the pivotal three-game series against Occidental College on Saturday at the new Ben Hines Field.

With the split, La Verne stays half a game behind Oxy in fifth place in SCIAC standings at 11-9.

Jebbia fired 8.1 scoreless innings while striking out nine as the Leopards beat the Tigers, 6-0, in Game 2.

Brett Early got the final two outs to complete the shutout.

Ben White provided what turned out to be the game-winning run when he singled up the middle to plate Jared Hovsepian in the 1^st inning.

White then added the game's final run in the 7^th with the first-ever home run at the new Ben Hines Field on La Verne's Campus West Athletic Complex.

With a 2-0 lead and the game still hanging in the balance, the Leopards gave themselves a breathing room with a three-run 5^th. Leadoff batter Nolan Henley was hit by pitch and advanced to third on a balk and sacrifice bunt. George Hanna then brought him home with a double and White and Tyler Watkins each came through with an RBI single to give the Leopards a 5-0 lead.

Oxy never got a runner past second base.

White was perfect 4-for-4 with three RBI and Hanna went 3-for-4.

Victor Munoz was 2-for-3 for Oxy.

Oxy used a big fourth inning to beat La Verne, 6-3, in Game 1.

Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, Devon DeRaad singled to left, A.J. Libunao legged out an infield single to third and La Verne catcher Joe Winterburn misplayed a sacrifice bunt by Alec Strain to load the bases for the Tigers. La Verne pitcher Zach Quinonoes then hit Charlie Caccamo, allowing the tying run to cross the plate. A batter later, Libunao scored on a passed ball and then Victor Munoz capped off the inning with a double to deep right center that emptied the bases to give Oxy the final lead of the game at 6-3.

Mitch Margolis, who was excellent on the mound for the Tigers, then sat down the Leopards in order in the next three innings and Scott Ericksen struck out the side in the ninth to seal the win for Oxy.

Margolis scattered five hits in eight strong innings while striking out six.

Oxy center fielder Alec Strain made a highlight-reel diving catch in the 3rd to snuff out what could've been a huge inning for La Verne. After a leadoff out, Henley drew a walk and Hovsepian singled to left, and both got into scoring position on a wild pitch. Hanna then hit a looping liner to the gap in right center that would've scored the runners and put Hanna himself in scoring position. However, Strain sped over and made a diving grab at full stretch to limit the damage to just one sacrifice fly run.

White was 2-for-3 in the game for La Verne.

Van Fudge had two hits for Oxy and Caccamo was 1-for-3 with three RBI.

La Verne returns to action next weekend for another crucial series against second-place Cal Lutheran. First game is at Thousand Oaks on Friday at 3 p.m.