LA VERNE, CA — The University of La Verne baseball team split their Saturday doubleheader against the No. 12/19 Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens, falling 13–9 in game one before bouncing back with a 5–3 victory in game two.
Game Two: La Verne 5, Pomona-Pitzer 3
The Sagehens took an early lead, scoring one run in the top of the first inning off starter Andrew Wente. But the Leopards responded quickly, backing up their starter and plating all five of their runs in the bottom of the first inning.
The rally began when Ryan Vosika and Nathan Perry drew back-to-back walks. Aidan Salcedo doubled to left field, bringing in both of his fellow seniors. Isaiah Figueroa reached first on a fielding error, and RJ Libby was hit with a pitch. Alek Bautista hit a sacrifice fly, letting Salcedo score, and Thomas Villanueva followed with a walk.
That was it for Sagehens' starter Jude Hatamiya. Lucas Dennis replaced him on the mound. The first batter he faced was Roman Miranda, who laced a two-RBI single to right field and put the Leopards up 5-1.
Wente tossed three innings, allowing three runs and picking up four strikeouts. Freshman Jack Holguin impressed in relief, notching his third win of the season, pitching five scoreless innings, only allowing two hits, and striking out three batters. Nico Hamilton recorded his first save of the season, tossing a clean ninth inning.
Game One: Sagehens 13, La Verne 9
In an offensive-heavy, four-hour game, the Leopards and Sagehens combined for a total of 22 runs and 24 hits.
Ryan Vosika recorded three hits with four RBIs, while Isaiah Figueroa finished the game with two hits and two RBIs. Lucas Quintana tossed 2.2 hitless, scoreless innings on the mound, striking out two.
Pomona-Pitzer led by three runs heading into the top of the sixth inning, but exploded for five more off four hits, making it a 10-2 game.
In the sixth and seventh innings, the Leopards scored two runs each, cutting the Sagehens lead to four. In the eighth, Aidan Salcedo singled and eventually came around to score on a wild pitch, making it only a three-run game. After Adan Garcia doubled and Aaron Whobrey and Jake Ledford both walked, the winning run was at the plate, but the Leopards were unable to capitalize and struggled getting runners in, leaving a total of 15 on base through the game.
Although the Leopards scratched two more runs across in the ninth, the Sagehens took game one by a final of 13-9.
Will Polishuk picked up his fourth win of the season for the Sagehens.
Next up: La Verne will be back in action in a DII matchup at Cal State San Bernardino this Tuesday, March 24 at 5 p.m.
