LA VERNE, CA- The University of La Verne baseball team scored six runs in the seventh to take a 7-6 lead in game one of a four-game series against the Linfield Wildcats.

Despite the Leopards' comeback, Linfield crushed two solo homers in the ninth inning to take a 9-7 lead, and retired the Leopards in order to close out the victory.

The Leos offense was led by second baseman Aidan Salcedo. The senior went one for four with four RBIs and a run scored. Isaiah Figueroa and Levi Altimirano each had two hits and a run, while catcher Nathan Perry added two hits and solid defensive work behind the plate.

Left hander Justin Reis started the game going three innings, allowing one earned run on two hits. He was relieved by Corbin Duffield who allowed four earned over his two and a third innings.

Aidan Nunez, Nico Hamilton, and Jordan Mansfield made their La Verne pitching debuts combining for two and a third innings, one run, and four strikeouts. 

The Wildcats scored once in the second and again in the third both on sacrifice flies. The Leopards answered back with a run in their half of the third thanks to some small ball after a Christian Takahashi double to lead off the inning. A sac bunt from Jake Ledford moved him to third and Aidan Salcedo cashed in a sacrifice fly of his own. In the sixth, Linfield added to their lead with a three spot capped off by a two run homer.

The Leos' bats exploded in the seventh as they scored six runs on five hits. Figueroa started the inning with a single, followed by a pinch hit knock from Altamirano. Jacob Castro and Jake Ledford each walked to bring up Salcedo, representing the tying run. He greeted the new pitcher by doubling on the first pitch, clearing the bases and bringing La Verne within one. Ryan Vosika laced a single up the middle bringing home Salcedo, and knotting the game up at six. After a single by Perry, an error allowed Vosika to score, and give the Leos their first lead of the season.

Rudy O'Dell gets credited with the loss and moves to 0-1. For the Wildcats, Zack Hampson picked up his first win of the season, and Casey Struckmeier collected the save.

The Leopards will continue their four game series against Linfield with a double header on Saturday at 11 and 2, followed by the finale on Sunday at 11 a.m.