BELTON, TX — The University of La Verne baseball team salvaged the finale of the three game series against the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. The Leo bats exploded for 14 runs on 18 hits courteous while getting some much needed help from the pitching staff to leave Texas with a 14-2, eight-inning win.
The offense produced a strong all-around performance, led by several multi-hit outings. Nathan Perry, Isaiah Figueroa, and Alek Bautista each went 3-4 and scored three runs, with Figueroa and Bautista driving in two runs apiece while Perry added an RBI. Roman Miranda also collected three hits, finishing 3-5 with two RBIs.
Aidan Salcedo contributed a 2-4 day with a run scored and two driven in, while Aaron Whobrey went 1-3, scoring twice and driving in a runner. Christian Takahashi added a nice afternoon with a hit, a run scored and two RBIs.
The scoring started in the second inning when Bautista singled to right field to bring home Perry, who reached earlier on a single. Figueroa later scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Takahashi, and Ryan Vosika capped off the inning with a double to left that plated Bautista.
In the third, Perry singled and both Isaac Barrales and Figueroa drew walks to load the bases. After a wild pitch that brought home Perry, Bautista followed with a single up the middle to score Barrales. Miranda added an RBI single to right field that plated Figueroa, and Bautista later scored on a fielder's choice to finish the inning.
More runs came across in the fifth when Bautista singled to start the rally and Takahashi followed with a single. Whobrey then doubled to center field to score Bautista. Salcedo kept the inning going with a single up the middle that brought home both Takahashi and Whobrey.
In the sixth and seventh, four more runs came in to score thanks to RBI hits from Figueroa, Miranda, and Perry.
Corbin Duffield was excellent in his start. He went six innings allowing just three hits and one run with four strikeouts. The Leopards were able to combo the righty with southpaw Jack Holguin, who went one inning with a strikeout to close out the win. With the win, Duffield moves to a staff leading 3-0.
The Leopards improve to 10-6 overall and will return to California after eight straight games away from their home state. They'll take on Pomona-Pitzer for a weekend series starting in Claremont on Friday at 3 p.m. The series will shift back to Ben Hines for a Saturday double header at 11 a.m and 2 p.m.
