REDLANDS, CA — Cameron Slessor and Adam Santa Cruz combined for five RBIs, and the University of La Verne baseball team held a 7-1 lead over Redlands heading into the bottom of the seventh. 

But the Bulldogs rallied in the bottom half of the inning scoring five runs to cut La Verne's lead to one and added three runs over the next to innings to beat the Leopards 9-7.

Slessor provided the highlight for the Leopards, hitting a three-run shot over the left field fence to extend La Verne's lead to 6-1. Santa Cruz added to the lead the next inning when he doubled to right center to score Jacob Barriga and Tanner Siffert.

That's when the Bulldogs caught fire unleashing five hits to cut the deficit to 7-6. A solo homer by Payton Walsh in the eighth and tied the game and a two-run Max Smyley home run in the ninth won the game for Redlands. 

Brandon Shiota led the Leopards with three hits and an RBI. Slessor finished the game 2-4 with two runs, and Santa Cruz added two hits. Christian Killian, Aaron Fong, and Siffert each added two hits and a run. Anthony Salcedo added his fourth stolen base of the year.

Sean Holt awent four and two-thirds innings in his start, allowing just one earned run in his outing.

Walsh led Redlands with four hits. Three different Bulldogs tallied two RBIs.

Season Impact

The Leopards move to 2-5 overall and 2-5 in the SCIAC. Redlands improves to 5-7 overall and 5-5 in the SCIAC.

Next Game

La Verne concludes its series with Redlands tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon.