Redlands, CA: The Leopards go on the road and take two games over the Bulldogs, winning 8-4 and 11-10.
Game One
The University of La Verne came out swinging and scored 5 runs in the third inning to take a 5-1 lead over the University of Redlands. Tanner Siffert started the scoring off with a base hit down the left-field line to score Drew Reddick. Brandon Shiota followed with a two-run homer to left field making it 3-1. The Leopards would tack on two more runs on a base hit by Manuel Munoz and fielding error by the Bulldogs shortstop, allowing both Logan Reese and Cameron Slessor to score. La Verne scattered three more runs across in the later innings on a pair of sacrifice flies by Reddick and Reese to score Malachi Francois and Shiota and benefiting from a wild pitch to allow Slessor to score, making it 8-1. Redlands fought back scoring a few late runs but ultimately could not come back and La Verne took game one 8-4.
Game Two
The second game between the Leopards and Bulldogs was anything but ordinary. La Verne jumped out to a 6-0 lead, scoring two runs in the 1st inning and four runs in the 2nd inning. Brandon Shiota led the way, knocking in one run in the 1st inning and doubling in two runs in the 2nd inning. Redlands responded, scoring 6 runs in the second inning to tie the game at 6-6. The Bulldogs took a 7-6 lead in the 4th inning but La Verne responded with four straight unanswered runs. John Bike singled home Garret Halbeisen to tie the game at 7-7 in the 5th inning. Cameron Slessor tripled in two runs to give La Verne a 9-7 lead and Malachi Francois drove in Slessor with a sacrifice fly to make it 10-7 La Verne. The Bulldogs once again rallied and scored one run in the 6th inning and two in the 8th inning to even the game at 10-10. Tied at 10-10 late in the evening on Saturday night, the Bulldogs and Leopards had to pause the game due to insufficient light at The Yard in Redlands. The game would be picked up Sunday afternoon and Brandon Shiota promptly hit a solo home run with two outs in the inning to give La Verne an 11-10 lead. Alfredo Frey finished off the Bulldogs in the 9th inning, stranded the tying and winning run on the bases, and sealed the win for La Verne.
Standouts
Brandon Shiota went 6-11 from the plate with 2 home runs, driving in 6 runs, and scoring four times. Cameron Slessor went 4-10 with 3 RBI's and 3 runs scored. Tanner Siffert collected 3 hits, drove in 3 runs, and scored 3 runs. Sean Holt improved to 4-0 on the season going 8 innings allowing five hits while striking out four batters.
Season Impact
The University of La Verne Leopards improved to 8-1-1 on the season and a perfect 3-0 in SCIAC. La Verne will play host to Whitter on Friday afternoon in a non-conference game. First pitch set for 2:30 PM.
