by Monica Garcia Silva

THOUSAND OAKS, CA - Friday night showcased 11-innings of excitement when the Leopards and the Kingsmen battled out the opening game of their three-game SCIAC series at Cal Lutheran University.

The Leopards entered the game at the top of the SCIAC leaderboard with only one loss, followed closely in second by the Kingsmen with three losses.

La Verne started strong, scoring in both the second and sixth innings, holding Cal Lutheran off until the 7th. The Leopards fired off two additional runs at the top of the eighth inning, and the Kingsman responded with a two run homerun bringing in two runs to tie the game. The 10th went scoreless for both teams, but the the Leopards made good use of the 11th when Chase Siffert singled to right field bringing two Leos across home plate. The Kingsman rallied with a late inning homerun, but couldn't make up the difference, and Leopards took the game 5-4.

Ethan Galindo started the game on the mound and went through 4-innings, giving up four hits and zero runs. Benny Vogel closed the game for the win.

The Leopards will continue the series at Ben Hines Field in a double header Saturday, April 15th. The first pitch is set for 11 A.M.

(photo by Joseph Ceniceros)