LA VERNE, CA — The No. 14 Leopards hosted the State University of New York Cortland Red Dragons in a midweek contest that ended in a tie, 7-7, due to darkness after extra innings.
The game consisted of four lead changes, including a dramatic ninth inning which resulted in the Leopards rallying from a 7-6 deficit to tie the game in the bottom half of the frame. La Verne led 6-5 heading into the top of the ninth, but the lead dissipated before an out was recorded.
Defensive miscues allowed the Red Dragons to stay in the ballgame and gave them a chance for insurance in the ninth. On a sacrifice bunt play that turned sour defensively for La Verne, right fielder Jason Givens (who returned to right field after shortly moving to third base) gunned down the potential go-ahead run at the plate with a nice tag applied by catcher Matt Rice. SUNY Cortland eventually scored after the initial throwing error left the go-ahead run at third base.
With the Leopards down to their final two outs trailing by one, center fielder Matthew Diaz singled to center for his third hit of the game. First baseman Noah Garcia, slotted after Diaz in the seventh hole, threaded a grounder inside third base and down the line that trickled into the corner for his third double to tie the game 7-7. Garcia was left stranded in scoring position, and the game finished after ten innings and a handshake between the two winningest coaches of their respective programs.
The Red Dragons were ranked No. 20 last week before dropping out of the current rankings released on Tuesday,
La Verne finished with seven runs on 14 hits but committed three errors that cost four unearned runs. Diaz and Garcia each led the way with three hits; for Garcia, his three doubles were his first extra-base hits of the season. Diaz scored three times.
The Leopards remain with seven wins and three losses, but add a tie to their record. They will resume conference play this weekend beginning a three-game series with first-place Occidental College on the road Friday, March 15. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.
