FOREST GROVE, OR — The University of La Verne's pitching staff threw 18 scoreless innings as the Leopards swept Friday's doubleheader against the Pacific University Boxers.
Senior outfielder Benny Vogel finished his day with four hits and two runs scored while senior first baseman Noah Garcia connected for three hits and two RBIs. Junior shortstop Ryan Vosika added three hits and touched home four times. Senior outfielder Matthew Diaz also drove in four runs.
Game One: La Verne 3, Pacific 0
Senior pitcher Ethan Galindo started game one for the Leopards, making his third overall appearance and second start of the 2025 season while freshman Governor Aufranc took to the mound for the Boxers.
La Verne struck first when senior designated hitter Nolan Anguiano started the top of the second inning with a leadoff double and came around to score when junior second baseman Aidan Salcedo drove him in, giving La Verne an early 1-0 lead.
Galindo pitched a strong game for the Leopards, throwing six scoreless innings and allowing only four hits before junior Caughlin Shults took over in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Going into the top of the ninth inning, the score was still 1-0 and both teams had left a combined 20 runners on base. La Verne was looking to score insurance runs before heading into the bottom half of the frame. Vosika and reigning Leopard of the Week, senior third baseman Logan Corthell started the inning with back-to-back singles off Pacific senior pitcher Cayden Okada. Garcia then ripped a double to the left field wall, bringing in both runners and extending the Leopard's lead, 3-0.
Graduate student pitcher Austin Klopfenstein retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth, securing the Leopards' victory and earning his first save of the season. Shults threw two scoreless innings in relief while Galindo notched his first win and Aufranc took the loss for Pacific, pitching 6.1 innings and giving up one run on three hits.
Game Two: La Verne 11, Pacific 0
The Leopards took another early lead in game two, scoring two runs in as many innings on five hits off Pacific's freshman starter, Nicholas Saelens. The offensive support gave La Verne's starter, senior Matthew Desmarets, a 2-0 lead to work with.
Senior outfielder Benny Vogel rocketed a leadoff triple to right field to begin the fourth inning, coming home when junior third baseman Aaron Whobrey grounded out, adding to the Leopard's lead 3-0.
La Verne tacked on another run in the top of the fifth inning when Vosika, who reached base via a walk and advanced to third on a single hit off Garcia's bat, scored on a passed ball, cushioning La Verne's lead by four runs as Saelens' day came to an end and sophomore Trent Nagamine assumed pitching duties for the Boxers.
The Leopards built on their lead even more in the top of the sixth inning, scoring an additional two runs off four hits, and pushing Pacific's deficit to 6-0.
Sophomore Justin Ries stepped on the hill in the bottom of the seventh, wrapping up DesMarets' dominant day on the mound with six scoreless innings, three hits allowed, and five strikeouts.
Vosika hit La Verne's second leadoff triple of the game and scored the Leopard's seventh run in the top of the eighth inning when senior outfielder Matthew Diaz hit an infield single.
Despite a seven-run lead, the Leopards continued to capitalize, plating four more runs off Pacific's sophomore pitcher Isaiah Hirsh in the top of the ninth on two hits, two hit batters, and one walk, breaking the score open, 11-0.
Ries allowed two hits in his two innings tossed and struck out Pacific's final batter of the game, sealing the 11-0 win and doubleheader sweep for La Verne.
DesMarets claimed his second win of the season and Saelens took the loss for Pacific, allowing four runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings.
The Leopards look to keep their momentum going and complete the series sweep this Saturday at 11 a.m.
