CLAREMONT, CA – In a thrilling SCIAC doubleheader match up down Arrow Highway, the No. 6 University of La Verne Leopards kept their winning streak scorching hot, sweeping the No. 11 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens with a come-from-behind 6-3 victory in game one followed by a dominant 7-2 win in game two.

Season Impact

The Leopards improve to 18-1 overall and 6-0 in the SCIAC. With the weekend sweep, La Verne has won 16 games in a row, surpassing the previous best of 15 games set in 1995. The 1995 squad led by legendary head coach Owen Wright went on to win the  NCAA DIII National Championship.

Game One: La Verne 6, Pomona-Pitzer 3

Game one of the doubleheader saw La Verne fight through a slow start at the plate, but then turn it all around with clutch hitting and heads-up baserunning by multiple Leopards. Senior Matthew DesMarets kept them in the game with a strong performance on the mound. DesMartes went six innings, struck out seven, and allowed only five hits and three runs, two of which were earned. 

Trailing 3-0 heading into the top of the sixth inning, the Leopards mounted a comeback to take control of the game. Senior Matthew Diaz got a pinch-hit opportunity and immediately sparked the offense with a double down the right field line.

Jake Ledford followed with a single to left, advancing Diaz to third, where he scored on a fielding error by the Sagehens left fielder. Back-to-back walks from Noah Garcia and Malachi Francois, loaded the bases and set the stage for Nolan Anguiano. 

Anguiano delivered with a clutch two RBI single up the middle tying the score at three apiece. Jason Givens completed the rally with a single through the right side scoring Anguiano. In a flash, the Leopards put up four runs in the inning, taking a 4-3 lead and shifting the momentum in their favor as they looked to close out the game.

The Leopards weren't done putting up runs, as they extended their lead in the top of the 9th. With the game still within reach, Ledford delivered a clutch performance, singling up the middle to bring in two more Leopards. His timely hit pushed La Verne's advantage to 6-3, solidifying their commanding position as they closed in on a crucial victory.

Ledford finished the game 3-5 at the plate. Francois and Givens added two hits each.

Relievers Justin Ries and Austin Klopfenstein combined for three scoreless innings to close out the game. Ries struck out two.

Game Two: La Verne 7, Pomona-Pitzer 2

In the second game of the doubleheader the No. 6 Leopards dominated from the start, built an early lead, and never looked back. 

In the second inning, the Leopards took a 2-0 lead with RBI singles from Ryan Vosika and Ledford. 

In the third, Givens launched his first home run of the year, a two-run shot to left center to extend the lead to 4-0.

The offense continued to roll, with a fourth inning RBI single from Nathan Perry and a fifth inning double down the left field line from Matt Rice that pushed the lead to 6-0. Garcia capped off the scoring in the sixth with an RBI double to right center, driving in Perry and solidifying the Leopards' 7-0 advantage.

Despite a late push from the Sagehens, scoring a combined two runs in the seventh and eighth innings, they couldn't do enough. 

La Verne's pitching staff delivered a stellar performance in their dominant victory. Freshman Lucas Quintana earned the win with a masterful six innings, allowing just three hits and one run, while striking out four. He kept the Sagehens' offense in check, setting the tone for the game. Relievers Ries and Jacob Castro made an appearance. 

Klopfenstein closed out the game efficiently, rounding out a well-rounded pitching effort that kept the Sagehens at bay throughout. The Leopards' pitchers combined for an impressive eight strikeouts and allowed just four hits, sealing the win with dominant control and composure.

Up Next

The Leopards look to keep this hot streak rolling and improve their rankings when they continue SCIAC play against No. 12 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday, March 28th, at 3 p.m. at Azusa Pacific University. They will then be home on Saturday, March 29th, to finish the series in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.