LA VERNE, Calif. — Javi Iniguez tossed a complete game and the University of La Verne baseball team came up with clutch hits to beat Chapman, 5-3, at Hart Park on Friday.

The Leopards improve to 16-6 in SCIAC play with the win and remains in first place. Chapman falls to 14-8 and sits tied for fifth place with Occidental.

The Leopards took the lead in the seventh with a pair of RBI singles. Jared Hovsepian was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and was sacrificed over to second on a bunt by Tyler Watkins. Aaron Orona promptly singled up the middle to score Hovsepian and tied the game at 3-3. Ben White followed that up with a single to right to bring in Orona for what turned out to be game-winning run.

Iniguez (6-2) then retired the last nine Chapman batters in a row to pick up his sixth win of the season. He struck out five, scattered seven hits and allowed just one walk.

La Verne added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Mark Jebbia hit a two-out single to score Orona, who had reached with a hit-by-pitch and stolen second.

The Leopards capitalized on shaky control by Chapman starter Kevin Klaess to get on the board in the first inning. Leadoff hitter Watkins was hit by a pitch, Orona followed with a walk and Jakob Thomas doubled down the right field line to give the Leopards a 2-0 lead.

Orona finshed 1-for-3 and scored three runs. White was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

The teams will wrap up the three-game series with a doubleheader at Ben Hines Field on Saturday. First game starts at 11 a.m.