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| The Leopards exploded in the eighth inning of game one against Linfield University, scoring 11 runs and bringing 16 hitters to the plate to defeat the Wildcats 16-5 on Thursday. La Verne athletics photo |
The La Verne Leopards exploded in the eighth inning of game one against Linfield, scoring 11 runs and bringing 16 hitters to the plate to defeat the Wildcats 16-5. Corner infielder Cam Slessor had a huge day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a triple and driving home three. Slessor also scored three runs while playing sound defense at both first and third base. Left-hander Jaylon Fong started on the hill for La Verne, delivering five scoreless innings while striking out five and picking up the win. The southpaw pitched carefully with runners on base, escaping jams in both the second and fourth innings. Logan Reese provided more highlight-reel defense in right field, fighting against the glaring Southern California sun to make a couple of web gems. In the top of the first, Reese leaped on the warning track to make a catch while crashing into the right field wall.
In the 2023 season opener on Thursday, Piedmont defeated California Lutheran 8-4 after a hot start. Bodie Eilertson anchored the Lions on the mound earning the win as he pitched the first 5.0 innings. Piedmont used an impressive three hit, three run seventh to extend the lead with Kolton Hicks hitting a 2-RBI single and later scoring on an error for a 7-3 lead. Both teams added a run in the ninth and Piedmont's Braden Simms earned the save pitching the final four innings allowing just one earned run.
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In a spring like weather setting, Nick Barenz and Stephen Posner come up big in 2023 season opener as the Widener Pride come away with a 2-1 victory over the Kean Cougars.
Defensively, the Pride open strong with a quick out on a groundout to the shortstop. Kean got on the board early with a run by a Gianni Marano base hit to third which advanced Brett Hilsheimer to give Kean an early advantage. The Pride would tie the game on Posner's hit in the third, driving in Kyle Brex
Neither team could get the offense going but kept the defensive game strong. In the top of the 6th, Widener went on to break the scoring drought that started from a Barenz double to right-center field. On deck was Andrew Yates who hit his second double of the day which also earned him his first RBI of the season.
Justin Diefenbach look the loss for Kean while Hayden O'Neill earned the win in a relief role. Kyle Laing got his first save of the season.
The University of the Ozarks and Hendrix College opened their seasons in Conway Tuesday and Hendrix came away with a 22-5 win. The Warriors scored five runs in the first frame. The Eagles got two runs back in the second inning and another in the third. The Eagles made it 5-4 in the top of the fourth. But Hendrix scored four times in the bottom half of the fourth and then never let the Eagles back into the game. The Warriors would explode for 12 runs in the seventh on ten hits. The Warriors recorded 18 hits. The Eagles had nine hits, but committed three errors. Hendrix's Drake Job and Joseph Watts led all Warrior hitters with three hits on the day. Brice Cagle went 3-for-3 at the plate for the Eagles.
Belhaven saw their Opening Day rally fall short on Tuesday as they were beaten by Rhodes 7-5. The Blazers found themselves in a steep hole early on as the visiting Lynx struck for five runs in the top of the 1st inning including a three-run home run. Despite the offensive outburst to start the game though the Blazers were able to right the ship and slow down the Rhodes' bats.
The Blazers continued to chip away at the Rhodes lead scoring a run in the bottom of the 5th on Nathan Herron's sacrifice fly to score Todd Goudeau. In the bottom of the 6th the hosts tied the game when Grayson Doss drove in Matthew Charbonnet on a ground ball on the infield.
Brett Sanchez continued to cruise after bouncing back from the rough first inning. The starter ended with seven innings of work and 11 strikeouts. Rhodes rolled out four pitchers with Zach Sohosky (3.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 K, 1 BB) getting the start. The Lynx closer Noah Roland (win, 2.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 3 K, 1 BB) was the most effective pitcher of the game.