Nate Rodriguez, Sports Information Intern
La Verne, CA – An eleventh inning played in the dark gave the Leopards a chance to shine brightly in the 2022 SCIAC opener against the Redlands Bulldogs. Having allowed two runs in the top half of the frame, La Verne found themselves chasing 4-2 with the bottom half of the order due up, and dusk looming while the sun sank beneath the hills behind Ben Hines field.
Left fielder Logan Reese sped out a ground ball to the first baseman to lead off the inning by reaching on an error. With one out, second baseman Chase Siffert doubled into the left center gap to bring up pinch-hitter Malachi Francois with two runners in scoring position. Francois sliced a ball off the diving first baseman's glove that rolled down the right field line for a stand-up triple, plating both runners. Redlands chose to intentionally walk Drew Reddick, who already smoked two singles into center earlier, and forced the Leopards' Anthony Salcedo to the plate. Salcedo, struggling lately, had a chance to walk Redlands off with two outs in the ninth when he popped up to the infield. Salcedo lined the first pitch he saw into center, driving home pinch-runner Garret Halbeisen to beat Redlands in the dark in walk-off fashion, 5-4. The Leopards used three pitchers during the eleven inning contest, with left-hander Benny Vogel toeing the rubber to start. In his second start this season, Vogel delivered 5.1 innings allowing just one earned run and striking out four. Leading by one with runners on the corners on the sixth, he handed the ball to Jerry Terry. Terry was greeted by a game-tying single, but answered more than what was asked of him; the right hander carried the game into extra innings, pitching 4.2 innings of two-run ball into the eleventh. Sidearmer Alfredo Frey finished the inning striking out two before the Leopards ignited the eleventh inning flame to start conference play. La Verne hopes to carry the momentum into enemy territory tomorrow when they cross the lines back at the University of Redlands for the series' remaining two games. Their doubleheader begins at 11am, with the second game shortly following the conclusion of the first currently scheduled for 2:30pm.
The Leopards record their season's sixth win, starting SCIAC off with a highlight.
