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LV baseball hosts California Classic

Swinging away brought more than just hits against University of Wisconsin La Crosse last Sunday; it also brought plenty of runs. The Leopards crossed the plate a dozen times in a 12-4 defeathering of the Eagles. Senior Derek King takes a swing in the first inning of the game against UW La Crosse. In its second game of the California Classic that evening, La Verne would drop a decision to Chapman University, 6-3. / photo by Jason Cooper
Swinging away brought more than just hits against University of Wisconsin La Crosse last Sunday; it also brought plenty of runs. The Leopards crossed the plate a dozen times in a 12-4 defeathering of the Eagles. Senior Derek King takes a swing in the first inning of the game against UW La Crosse. In its second game of the California Classic that evening, La Verne would drop a decision to Chapman University, 6-3. / photo by Jason Cooper

by Chrissy Zehrbach
Assistant Editor

The University of La Verne baseball team was slated to host the annual California Classic this past weekend, but due to rain Saturday, the tournament was abbreviated.

The sun came out Sunday, and the Leopards took to the soggy field, gaining a 12-4 win over University of Wisconsin La Crosse and a 6-3 loss to Chapman University.

The evening game was scoreless throughout the first inning, then Chapman jumped on a lead in the bottom of the second. Back to back singles put two runners on base for the Panthers. Taking advantage of a wild pitch, the lead runner stole home to put the first run on the board.

A double from designated hitter Jeff Levering would then bring around a second run, giving Chapman a 2-0 lead.

ULV responded in the top of the third, putting three runs on the board and taking over the lead.

Second baseman Justin Brown led off the inning, reaching first on a bunt. Brown advanced to second with a sacrifice bunt from shortstop Greg Chico and reached third on a passed ball. He then scored on a fielder’s choice.

With one out and bases loaded, first baseman Adrian Reyes scored two runners with a base hit.

“Our offense came to the plate, and we swung the bats a lot better,” said B.J. DuBarry, catcher.

The fifth inning was key for the Panthers, who on only two hits, scored four more runs and took back their lead.

The first two Chapman batters in the fifth were put on base by a walk and an error.

Lead off batter, first baseman Justin Hallenbeck, doubled and scored one run to tie the game at three. Bases were loaded for the Panthers with two down when catcher Matt Graves hit a double that cleared the bases.

Chapman took a 6-3 lead and never gave it back.

Justin Van Duyne, who came in to relieve starting pitcher Derek King in the fifth, was successful in holding off the Panthers, who only managed two hits off him.

The Leopards had their chance for recovery in the top of the eighth inning.

Two walks and a base hit from right fielder Joe Scott found the bases loaded for the Leopards.

But they could not capitalize on the situation, as two back-to-back strike outs ended the inning.

“We didn’t execute well with runners on and runners in scoring positions,” said Aaron Mendoza, catcher and designated hitter.

Ten ULV runners were left on base in the course of the game.

The game was called in the eighth inning due to a tournament rule time limit.

Chapman took home the win 6-3.

“It was a close game, and we played tough,” DuBarry said. “If we could rewind it and take back a couple pitches, it would have been a different game.”

“We try to play the toughest non-conference schedule we can find. We’re going to win some, and we’re going to lose some,” head coach Scott Winterburn said.

“Chapman at this point in the season is a much more polished team,” he said.

Earlier Sunday afternoon, the Leopards defeated La Crosse by a large margin.

The Leopards came out strong on the sticks in their first inning at the plate.

An error on shortstop Chad Tindall turned DuBarry’s single into a double.

With DuBarry in scoring position, outfielder Daniel Soriano doubled to left field, allowing the Leopards’ first run to cross the plate.

Soriano would then score on a single up the middle from Reyes.

ULV increased its lead to 5-0 in the third inning with one hit.

The Eagles’ pitcher, Jude Tindall, loaded the bases as three consecutive batters were hit by pitches.

Clean-up hitter Mendoza stepped to the plate and hit a double off the left field wall scoring all three runners.

“Aaron gives us consistency at the plate,” Winterburn said.

Mendoza currently leads the Leopard offense with a .393 batting average.

Starting pitcher Scott Lindeen had successfully shut out the Eagles until the top of the fifth inning.

“Scott did a good job working the pitches,” Winterburn said. “He’s our most consistent pitcher. Every time he’s out there he gives the team a chance to win the game.”

In the fifth inning, a ULV fielding error put two Wisconsin runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly brought in one run, and another fielding error brought in the second run three batters later. Never losing sight of their lead, the Leopards put one more run on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning and six in the sixth inning.

Four of the six runs in the bottom of the sixth came from a grand slam shot over the left field wall from infielder John Doak.

The Eagles squeezed out two more runs in the seventh inning, but could not manage any more in the game.

To end the game, ULV closer Sergio Villalobos struck out the side in the top of the ninth, leaving ULV on top, 12-4.

“We’re starting to play better baseball … hopefully it will pay off,” Winterburn said.

The Leopards will resume action next week with a three-day series against Chapman.

They will once again take on the Panthers at 6 p.m., Thursday, March 27, in Orange, 3 p.m. Friday, March 28, at Ben Hines Field and at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 29, in Orange.

Chrissy Zehrbach
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