Darnell Gilbert
Staff Writer
After winning the first game of a three-game series against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the University of La Verne baseball team dropped the last two games to end its winning streak at 11 games last Saturday at Ben Hines Field.
“When we came into conference we weren’t worried about a 11-game winning streak,” senior pitcher Steven Hagman said.
The Leopards pitching has dominated its opponents for majority of the season but in their doubleheader, starters Ryan Rose, a sophomore, and Dustin Bowers, a senior, could not find a way to get outs when they needed them the most.
“They came ready to play,” Rose said. “They played good two-strike baseball.”
Bowers went six strong innings, giving up seven runs, while Rose also went six giving up four runs and striking out two.
Bowers and Rose each earned a no decision, leaving the Leopards bullpen to pick up the losses.
This three-game series was a battle of which offense was stronger and deeper.
In the first game of the series, La Verne won 12-3, but the Leopards managed to fall short by a combined score of 12-11 in the next two games.
In game one of the doubleheader, senior first baseman Jonathan Marty and senior centerfielder Lucas Berry both led the Leopards in RBIs with two a piece.
Sophomore third baseman Colby Jamar led La Verne in hits and runs scored with three for the game.
“I just tried to keep the ball in play,” Marty said.
The pitching staff had no success in stopping Claremont’s offensive stars Blake Lloyd and Morgan Cummins.
The pair of Stags combined for nine hits and three RBIs while crossing home plate three times.
Claremont’s offense was too much for the Leopards to handle.
In the first game, Claremont finished with 21 hits while La Verne only managed to pick up 12.
Game two was no different than game one.
La Verne got on the board early in the game, scoring eight runs within the first five innings.
But Claremont made adjustments by pulling out starter Ryan Jeffery and bringing in reliever Joe Wilbert, who held most of La Verne’s batters in check.
Junior catcher Scott Marcus had a sensational game with five hits and three RBIs, leading the team.
Marty also had another complete game with three hits and three RBIs.
After Bowers got pulled in the seventh inning, head coach Scott Winterburn brought sophomore Jim Wilfong in the game, which proved to be costly.
Wilfong gave up four runs in just one inning, allowing Claremont to take a comfortable lead.
From there Claremont’s pitching settled down and only gave up one run in the last two innings of the game.
Today the Leopards (15-9 overall and 5-4 in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play) will start a three-game series against the Redlands Bulldogs (17-6 overall and 5-1 in SCIAC).
The first game will be played in Redlands and the next two at Ben Hines Field. Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
Darnell Gilbert can be reached at flawlessgee@yahoo.com.
Darnell Gilbert
