College Baseball:
The University of La Verne’s magical run in 2023 came to an end some 1,559 miles from home on Saturday.
But not without putting up a fight.
After getting thumped (9-1) in the best-of-three Super Regional opener on Friday, the Leopards found themselves trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning at East Texas Baptist University.
As Scott Winterburn’s program does, La Verne rallied, got three runs in the fourth, five in the sixth, one in the seventh and edged the Tigers, 9-8, to force a third game.
Sayers Collins surrendered five runs on 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings.
He walked one and fanned three ULV batters.
Trent Clark was charged with the loss after allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit and a pair of walks.
Cameron Slessor went 3-for-4 with a walk and scored one run.
Logan Reese singled, hit a solo HR and scored twice.
Matt Diaz went 3-for-3, scored and had one RBI.
Malachi Francois walked, singled and scored a pair of runs.
Chase Siffert singled and his sac fly in the sixth allowed ULV to catch ETB at 7-7.
Miguel Espana walked with the bases loaded and he’d eventually score on a passed ball to give the Leopards their first run of the game.
Ryan Vosika went 2-for-4 with a run and one RBI.
Noah Garcia singled once in Saturday’s win.
Ethan Galindo started, but the former Northview lefty surrendered four runs on four hits and a walk before getting pulled in the first inning.
Ryan McLernon went four innings and allowed just an unearned run on one hit.
McLernon issued four walks and registered three strikeouts.
Benny Vogel was credited with the win after going five, and surrendering three runs on seven hits.
Vogel walked three and fanned a pair of Tigers’ batters.
Brett Wagner went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBIs.
Jase Jones walked, singled, doubled and scored.
Jacob Evangelista singled three times, scored and had an RBI.
Carson Wilson walked twice, had two singles and scored.
Jordan Hara walked, singled and scored.
Ben Lea drew three walks, singled, drove in a run and scored three times.
Nick Massarini singled, scored and had an RBI.
In Saturday’s finale and with the series on the line, ETB pounded out a 14-6 victory.
The Tigers led 7-0 after two innings and they out-hit the Leopards, 19-17, in a slugfest.
Chase Pederson was roughed for six runs on seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.
Pederson got the loss, allowing one walk and striking out one.
ETB scored at least one run off six of the seven La Verne pitchers.
Carson Wilson set the tone, as his grand slam in the second inning gave ETB a 5-0 lead.
Jake Miller went 5-for-6, including a two-run HR.
Miller scored three times and drove in three.
Jase Jones had a two-run shot for the Tigers.
Ben Lea walked twice, doubled and scored.
Jacob Evangelista drew a pair of walks, singled twice and scored two runs.
Jordan Hara went 3-for-4 with two walks, scored twice and drove in a pair.
Brett Wagner had three hits, walked, scored twice and had three RBIs.
Nick Chavez drew three walks, singled twice and scored two runs.
Nick Massarini walked and doubled.
Jagger Neely earned the win after going six innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on nine hits.
Neely didn’t issue a walk and struck out three.
Eleven La Verne batters had at least one hit.
Ryan Vosika went 4-for-5 with a run and two RBIs.
Malachi Francois singled twice, doubled and scored.
Logan Reese went 2-for-5 with two runs.
Chase Siffert had an RBI single.
Cameron Slessor singled and scored.
Noah Garcia had an RBI single in the third to get ULV on the board.
Anthony Salcedo walked, singled, scored and had an RBI.
Matt Diaz, Miguel Espana, Manuel Munoz and Nathan Perry had one hit apiece for the SCIAC champs.
Congrats to Coach Winterburn, his staff and their players for representing the school, program and their families so well.
Saturday’s Game One:
ETB: 4-0-1-0-2-0-0-0-1-(8)
ULV: 0-0-0-3-0-5-1-0-X-(9)
Win: Benny Vogel
Loss: Trent Clark
HR: Logan Reese (ULV)
2B: Brett Wagner (ETB), Jase Jones (ETB)
Saturday’s Game Two:
ETB: 1-6-0-0-2-4-0-0-1-(14)
ULV: 0-0-1-0-0-0-1-1-3-(6)
Win: Jagger Neely
Loss: Chase Pederson
HR: Carson Wilson (ETB), Jase Jones (ETB), Jake Miller (ETB)
2B: Ben Lee (ETB), Nick Massarini (ETB); Malachi Francois (ULV)
Series Scores:
ETB 9, ULV 1 on Friday
ULV 9, ETB 8 on Saturday
ETB 14, ULV 6 on Saturday
ETB wins Super Regional, 2-1
Records: East Texas Baptist (40-13); La Verne (32-18)
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