In hope of advancing in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings, the University of La Verne baseball team managed to take two of three games from Whittier this past weekend.
La Verne’s (13-5) victories move the team a half game ahead of Cal Lutheran (12-5) in the SCIAC race.
“We’re fortunate to be in the position to win conference,” pitcher Scott Lindeen said. “We have to treat the next two weeks like it’s our last, because it could be.”
On Saturday, the Leopards returned to Ben Hines Field for a doubleheader.
ULV also took the time to honor the tenth anniversary of the baseball team’s national championship, which came with a 5-3 victory in the Division III World Series against Methodist College in 1995.
In game one against Whittier, the Leopards received a solid performance on the mound from Lindeen, as he allowed only one earned run and tallied four strikeouts, bettering his record to 7-2.
“I’ve continued to try to throw strikes and let the defense play behind me, it’s been the same game plan all year,” Lindeen said.
The Leopards attacked early and put up five runs in the first two innings, as B.J. DuBarry, Jason Jarvis and Mike Bockstahler all contributed two hits apiece for the Leopards. Bockstahler and DuBarry both had home runs for La Verne, while Danny Bonilla pitched in with two RBIs.
Even thought Bockstahler has been sitting on bench for nearly two months due to an elbow injury, he said watching the games from the bench helped him at the plate.
“Sitting on the bench was a learning experience,” Bockstahler said. “I’ve been able to watch and listen to all the advice coaches have given our team. In the end I think it’s made me more of a mature batter.”
La Verne’s offense struggled in the final game, as they left 11 on base. Colby Jamar and John Marty were the only Leopards with multiple hits.
Whittier’s offense however, had no trouble as Pete Aiello, Ty Crawford and Matt Carter all had two-run home runs, giving the Poets a 9-4 victory.
ULV headed to Whittier on Friday and came from behind to take a 13-10 decision.
The Leopards trailed by five before putting all 13 runs on the board during the sixth, seventh and eight innings.
Offensively, the Leopards were led by Jarvis, who went 4-for-5 with three RBIs.
Kyle Johnson added a 2-for-5, three RBI effort; while DuBarry finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs knocked in. Pitcher Craig Neu picked up the win in his relief effort, improving his record to 3-0 on the year.
“At this time of the year, you don’t have time to cry over losses,” head coach Scott Winterburn said. “We’ve got a schedule to play, and we’ve got games to win.”
With six conference games remaining on its schedule, and Cal Lu closely chasing the Leopards tail, La Verne will have to remain on top of its game for the home stretch.
“We needed a (third) win today and we didn’t get it,” DuBarry said. “Now we have to play that much harder; lights out for the next six games.”
The Leopards will take on Poets again at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Whittier. La Verne will then face Pomona-Pitzer for another 1 p.m. match up on Sunday at Claremont.
Joseph Lovallo can be reached at lovalloj@ulv.edu.
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