LA VERNE, CA — The No. 8 University of La Verne baseball team exploded for eight runs in the sixth inning and cruised to a dominant 15-1 victory in seven innings over Occidental College to open their three-game SCIAC series Friday afternoon at Ben Hines Field.

The Leopards showcased their offensive depth with 13 hits and 15 runs, racking up three sacrifice flies, four hit-by-pitches, and nine walks to overwhelm the Tigers.

Benny Vogel sparked the scoring early with an RBI single in the second and later delivered a ground-rule double to plate two more in the sixth. The center fielder finished 2-for-2 with four RBIs and a sacrifice fly. Ryan Vosika also shined at the top of the order, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a walk, and a hit-by-pitch.

La Verne led 7-1 heading into the sixth before blowing the game wide open. The Leopards sent 13 batters to the plate in the frame, drawing four walks, getting three hit-by-pitches, and piling on six runs before Occidental could record a second out.

Ethan Galindo continued his strong season on the mound, improving to 7-1 with six efficient innings. He allowed just one run on four hits while striking out one. Kyle Noell closed out the seventh with two strikeouts in relief.

Leopard hitters up and down the lineup contributed. Logan Reese went 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, while Noah Garcia doubled, reached base four times, and drove in two. Aaron Whobrey added a pair of hits and an RBI, and Matt Diaz drove in a run and scored twice.

Up Next:

La Verne (24-6, 12-4 SCIAC) and Occidental (10-22, 3-13 SCIAC) resume their SCIAC series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 19, at Anderson Field in Los Angeles. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.