ORANGE, CA — The University of La Verne baseball team jumped on Redlands early and never looked back, defeating the Bulldogs 8-2 to advance in the SCIAC Baseball Postseason Tournament.
The Leopards will face the loser between Chapman and Cal Lutheran in another elimination game today at 6 p.m. The winner will advance to the SCIAC Championship game(s). Chapman and Cal Lutheran play today at 2 p.m.
After dropping the tournament opener yesterday, the Leopards responded in a big way totaling 10 hits on their way to the win.
Tanner Siffert drove in half of the Leopards' runs in the win. With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the second, the centerfielder stepped up to bat with the bases loaded and cleared the bases with a single to left-center, bringing in Anthony Salcedo, Chase Siffert, and Aaron Fong. He put the finishing touches on the win in the eighth when he scored Fong on a sacrifice fly to center.
Sean Holt threw a gem for La Verne. Holt earned the first complete-game win of his career allowing just five hits, one earned run, and one walk with a strikeout. After the first inning, Holt allowed just two runners to enter scoring position.
Chase Siffert had an outstanding game of his own. The second baseman finished 3-4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs. Siffert tied the game in the second when he singled in Cameron Slessor and scored Slessor again in the eighth off a single to left.
Salcedo did more than his share from the leadoff position, finishing with three hits and two runs.
La Verne improves to 5-6 overall and Redlands ends the season 5-11.
Tournament Breakdown
Game 1: No. 4 Redlands @ No. 1 Chapman; Chapman 7, Redlands 6
Game 2: No 3 La Verne @ No. 2 Cal Lutheran; Cal Lutheran 12, La Verne 3
Game 3: Redlands (Loser of Game 1) v. La Verne (Loser of Game 2); La Verne 8, Redlands 2
Game 4: Chapman (Winner of Game 1) v. Cal Lutheran (Winner of Game 2)
Game 5: La Verne (Winner of Game 3) v. Loser of Game 4
Game 6: Championship Game
Game 7: If Necessary
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