Nate Rodriguez, Sports Information Intern 

La Verne, CA – The Leopards nearly scored 30 runs in Friday's non-conference matchup against the Whittier Poets, a game they won 28-6. 

Left-handed hitting first basemen Tanner Siffert and John Bike both clubbed long home runs in La Verne's 13-run fifth inning. Siffert launched a three-run shot for his first poke of the campaign, and Bike turned on a high fastball for a grand slam that made the score 20-1. The Leo bats came together for 26 total hits in a sloppy defensive game that produced nine defensive errors combined. After the fifth, the entire Leopards' order was substituted; which brought along plenty of opportunities for Coach Winterburn's role players. Cole McCollum came off the bench and went 2-2 driving in a run. He was later substituted for Miguel Espana who came through with a late-inning single, and his middle infield counterpart Garrett Halbeisen went 1-3 plating home a trio of runs. Third baseman Greg Pavon and catcher Jacob Gutierrez each collected a hit, scoring three times and twice, respectively. Center fielder Jacob Barriga also reached baseb three times, going 1-2 with a run scored and a pair of RBIs. Nick Zolferino picked up the win on the bump, going five innings allowing just one run while striking out seven. Tyler Lokar made his first appearance of the season, commanding three scoreless innings to close out the ballgame and punching out three Poets. La Verne handed Whittier their 14th loss of the season, while advancing their own record to 9-1-1.