LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne baseball traveled to Whittier College and picked up a series win to open SCIAC play.
Game 2 La Verne 9, Whittier 0
Thomas Villanueva finished 2-3 with a pair of doubles, driving in four runs and scoring twice. Aaron Whobrey and Aidan Salcedo set the tone at the top of the lineup, both going 2-4 and combining for four runs. The Leopards combined for nine hits in the win
Jack Holguin shined in his first collegiate start, tossing five innings of scoreless ball, allowing four hits and collecting three strikeouts, including one to end the fifth and fire up the dugout. Nico Hamilton came out of the pen and continued the narrative set by Holguin, pitching four scoreless innings on four hits while striking out six.
It was the Leopards' turn to strike first as they put up one in the opening frame. Jacob Castro, who moved up to the two spot in the lineup after his strong start this season, singled through the right side. After walks to Nathan Perry and Isaiah Figueroa to load the bases, a throwing error by the catcher allowed Castro to scamper home.
The Leopards got another rally started in the fourth when Aaron Whobrey singled, and Tommy Villanueva and Daniel Moreno walked. The Leos used small ball to manufacture a run, as Roman Miranda executed the squeeze play. The inning continued when Castro picked up an RBI as he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. In the fifth, Whobrey was hit by a pitch and came around to score after a Poet error.
In the seventh, the Leopards scored three thanks to some timely hitting. Figueroa walked, and Whobrey doubled, setting the stage for Villanueva, who cleared the bases with a double of his own. He then came around to score on a Daniel Moreno single to right, making it a 7-0 game. La Verne added two more insurance runs in the eighth inning courtesy of another two-run double from Villanueva, his second in as many innings.
Holguin picked up his first victory as a college athlete, and Hamilton secured his first save.
Game 1: Whittier 4, La Verne 2
The Leopard bats were quiet in game one as the lineup combined for just six hits and two runs. Christian Takahashi finished with a hit, run, and RBI. Robbie Fintland added a hit and a run of his own.
Andrew Wente got his second start of the young season, tossing three innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs. Rudy O'Dell, who has emerged as a key bullpen piece, was the first man to relieve Wente. He went two full innings, giving up no earned runs and just two hits. Aiden Nunez and Zenen Pena were effective in their outings, combining for three innings, one hit, no runs, and four punch-outs.
Whittier got on the board first with a run in the first inning, followed by two more in the third. In the fifth, the Leopards cut into the three-run deficit, plating two. Fintland led the inning with a single and advanced to second following a Levi Altimarano sacrifice bunt. Takahashi ripped an RBI single to left and then advanced on the throw to the plate. A fielding error allowed him to score, and cut the lead to just one. Heading into the ninth, La Verne trailed by two, and despite getting the tying run in scoring position, a flyout ended the ballgame.
Next Game
Up next, the Leopards will hit the road as they begin their Arizona trip. They'll start the week in Tucson, facing Concordia University (Wis.) on Thursday night and Friday afternoon, then square off against Gustavus Adolphus on Friday evening and Saturday. La Verne will wrap up their week with a single game against Bethany Lutheran College on Sunday before flying home.
